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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. ground — the earth
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. charge — in control
  8. bark — a dog's sound
  9. charge — electricity
  10. charge — a price
  11. rash — a series
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. fine — high quality
  16. ground — a position
  17. snap — to click
  18. ground — crushed
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. fine — all right
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. rush — hurry
  23. bark — to shout
  24. rash — hasty

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