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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 116 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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. kid — to tease
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. swing — to play on
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. present — a gift
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. present — there
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. swing — music
  18. present — the time now
  19. charge — a price
  20. kid — child
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. swing — in golf
  24. charge — electricity

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