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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 120 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. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for dancing
  2. firm — a company
  3. charge — in control
  4. firm — steady
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. club — for golf
  7. season — of the year
  8. spring — the season
  9. current — electric
  10. charge — electricity
  11. current — happening now
  12. spring — a coil
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. spring — of water
  18. season — in sport
  19. club — a group
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. current — of water
  23. charge — a price
  24. firm — decided

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