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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 120 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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. charge — electricity
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. charge — in control
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. lean — to bend
  8. deal — to handle
  9. suit — in cards
  10. charge — a price
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. lean — thin
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. suit — clothes
  15. rash — a series
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. content — the amount
  18. suit — to fit
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. rash — hasty
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. content — happy

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