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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 120 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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  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. rock — music
  2. charge — electricity
  3. stand — to bear
  4. spring — the season
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. can — a tin
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. spring — a coil
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. can — to be able to
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. staff — employees
  15. spring — of water
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. staff — a stick
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. can — a tin
  20. rock — a stone
  21. staff — employees
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. charge — a price
  24. charge — in control

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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