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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. charge — electricity
  3. craft — boats
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. craft — a skill
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. net — in sport
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. charge — a price
  11. mug — a cup
  12. chip — to eat
  13. mug — to rob
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. charge — in control
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. chip — for betting
  21. net — for catching
  22. mug — a face
  23. net — after costs
  24. craft — a handicraft

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