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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 116 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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. charge — in control
  4. mug — to rob
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. deal — to handle
  8. stock — shares
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. fall — to drop
  11. mug — a cup
  12. charge — electricity
  13. fall — the season
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. stock — goods
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. mug — a face
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. ball — a dance
  20. ball — a great time
  21. mine — for digging
  22. fall — to drop
  23. charge — a price
  24. mine — belonging to me

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