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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. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for dancing
  2. kick — in football
  3. season — of the year
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. charge — electricity
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. chip — for betting
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. rash — hasty
  11. chip — to eat
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. club — for golf
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. club — a group
  18. charge — a price
  19. rash — a series
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. pass — a permit
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. charge — in control
  24. season — in sport

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