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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. prune — to trim
  3. bark — to shout
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. current — electric
  6. prune — to trim
  7. mark — a grade
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. charge — in control
  11. charge — a price
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. charge — electricity
  16. rock — a stone
  17. current — happening now
  18. mark — a trace
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. rock — music
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. current — of water
  24. deal — an agreement

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