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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. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — government
  2. firm — steady
  3. rule — to rule out
  4. spring — the season
  5. charge — a price
  6. cue — a signal
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. spring — of water
  9. charge — electricity
  10. firm — a company
  11. rule — a law
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. ball — a great time
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. ball — a dance
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. cue — a hint
  20. cue — for pool
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. spring — a coil
  23. firm — decided
  24. charge — in control

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