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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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  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. charge — electricity
  2. staff — employees
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. staff — employees
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. charge — a price
  8. deal — to handle
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. staff — a stick
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. chair — a leader
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. temple — a place of worship
  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