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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. ground — a position
  3. ground — crushed
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. ground — the earth
  6. can — a tin
  7. charge — a price
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. key — in music
  10. land — a country
  11. can — to be able to
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. can — a tin
  14. lie — to recline
  15. land — to come down
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. key — the most important part
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. land — ground
  20. charge — electricity
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. key — for a lock
  24. lie — an untruth

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