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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. charge — in control
  3. vault — a safe
  4. rule — to rule out
  5. squash — the sport
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. spell — a short time
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. staff — employees
  10. squash — to crush
  11. rule — a law
  12. spell — magic
  13. rule — government
  14. charge — a price
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. staff — a stick
  18. charge — electricity
  19. chip — to eat
  20. pass — a permit
  21. spell — letters
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. chip — for betting

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