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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. rule — government
  3. deal — to handle
  4. capital — a city
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. ball — a great time
  8. rule — to rule out
  9. charge — a price
  10. capital — money
  11. ball — a dance
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. lie — to recline
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. charge — electricity
  21. rule — a law
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. capital — a big letter
  24. charge — in control

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