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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. charge — in control
  3. staff — employees
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. suit — clothes
  6. pop — music
  7. suit — in cards
  8. pop — to visit
  9. staff — a stick
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — to be able to
  13. wound — an injury
  14. suit — to fit
  15. staff — employees
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. bore — to tire
  18. charge — a price
  19. chip — to eat
  20. pop — soda
  21. charge — electricity
  22. wound — an injury
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. bore — to drill

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