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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. root — the cause
  3. bore — to tire
  4. band — a ring
  5. plane — a tool
  6. fine — high quality
  7. rash — hasty
  8. charge — electricity
  9. charge — in control
  10. band — a music group
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. bore — to drill
  13. root — of a plant
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. charge — a price
  16. rash — a series
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. root — of a word
  21. deal — to handle
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. fine — all right
  24. rash — on the skin

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