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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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. land — a country
  3. deal — to handle
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. prune — to trim
  7. pass — a permit
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. current — happening now
  10. current — of water
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. land — to come down
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. foot — a measure
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. land — ground
  18. prune — to trim
  19. charge — in control
  20. current — electric
  21. season — in sport
  22. charge — a price
  23. season — of the year
  24. pass — to succeed

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