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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. can — to be able to
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. date — the fruit
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — a tin
  11. stock — shares
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. rush — hurry
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. stock — goods
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. charge — in control
  20. deal — to handle
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. charge — electricity
  24. deal — an agreement

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