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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. suit — to fit
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. suit — in cards
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. spell — magic
  7. can — to be able to
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. suit — clothes
  10. mine — for digging
  11. firm — a company
  12. firm — decided
  13. spell — letters
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. firm — steady
  16. spell — a short time
  17. charge — electricity
  18. charge — a price
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. can — a tin
  22. sharp — clever
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. can — a tin

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