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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. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — a professorship
  2. charge — in control
  3. spring — a coil
  4. season — in sport
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. spring — of water
  7. object — to protest
  8. chair — to sit on
  9. object — an aim
  10. charge — electricity
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. object — a thing
  15. season — of the year
  16. bear — the animal
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. charge — a price
  20. spring — the season
  21. chair — a leader
  22. chip — for betting
  23. chip — to eat
  24. bear — the animal

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