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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. dip — to sink
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. firm — steady
  5. degree — temperature
  6. season — in sport
  7. charge — electricity
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. deal — to handle
  10. degree — from a university
  11. season — of the year
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. charge — a price
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. rash — a series
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. rash — hasty
  19. degree — an amount
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. charge — in control
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. firm — a company
  24. rash — on the skin

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