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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 chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. charge — in control
  3. rock — a stone
  4. spring — of water
  5. rule — government
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. mine — for digging
  8. rule — a law
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. charge — a price
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. toast — bread
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. spring — the season
  17. bore — to drill
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. rock — music
  20. spring — a coil
  21. bore — to tire
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  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