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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. spell — a short time
  3. charge — electricity
  4. spell — magic
  5. board — a committee
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. mine — for digging
  8. bound — certain
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. key — the most important part
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. can — a tin
  14. board — to get on
  15. charge — a price
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. key — for a lock
  18. bound — tied together
  19. key — in music
  20. spell — letters
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. can — to be able to
  23. bound — obliged
  24. can — a tin

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