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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. charge — in control
  3. rash — a series
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. present — there
  7. rock — a stone
  8. present — the time now
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. sharp — clever
  12. dip — to sink
  13. present — a gift
  14. game — a match
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. game — wild animals
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. charge — electricity
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. rock — music
  23. rash — hasty
  24. charge — a price

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com