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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. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. staff — employees
  3. current — of water
  4. staff — employees
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. fine — high quality
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. deal — to handle
  11. current — happening now
  12. lean — to bend
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. charge — in control
  15. lean — thin
  16. land — to come down
  17. charge — a price
  18. land — a country
  19. charge — electricity
  20. current — electric
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. land — ground
  24. staff — a stick

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