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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. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. charge — in control
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. current — happening now
  9. charge — a price
  10. bound — obliged
  11. game — a match
  12. deal — to handle
  13. rush — hurry
  14. key — the most important part
  15. current — of water
  16. key — for a lock
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. current — electric
  19. game — wild animals
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. bound — certain
  22. key — in music
  23. bound — tied together
  24. charge — electricity

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