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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. last — finally
  3. rash — a series
  4. rash — hasty
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. charge — in control
  7. charge — a price
  8. rush — hurry
  9. stock — goods
  10. last — to go on
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. last — final
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. face — to confront
  19. charge — electricity
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. face — to point toward
  22. deal — to handle
  23. stock — shares
  24. rush — to hurry

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