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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. bear — the animal
  4. ground — a position
  5. deal — to handle
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. ground — crushed
  8. charge — electricity
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. land — to come down
  11. bear — the animal
  12. charge — a price
  13. land — a country
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. charge — in control
  21. land — ground
  22. rush — hurry
  23. pit — in a race
  24. pit — a hole

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