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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. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. spell — letters
  3. spell — magic
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. charge — in control
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. bear — the animal
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. charge — electricity
  10. deal — to handle
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. rock — a stone
  14. rock — music
  15. charge — a price
  16. rush — hurry
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. file — a tool
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. spell — a short time
  23. bear — the animal
  24. file — a line of people

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