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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. charge — a price
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. bank — for money
  5. charge — in control
  6. bore — to drill
  7. game — wild animals
  8. bore — to tire
  9. can — a tin
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. game — a match
  12. deal — to handle
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. staff — employees
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. bank — of a river
  17. can — to be able to
  18. charge — electricity
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. pass — a permit
  22. bank — for money
  23. staff — a stick
  24. staff — employees

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