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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. stock — shares
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. can — a tin
  7. bore — to drill
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. can — a tin
  11. perch — the fish
  12. bore — to tire
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. can — to be able to
  16. charge — a price
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. hand — in cards
  19. fall — to drop
  20. hand — help
  21. fall — to drop
  22. charge — electricity
  23. fall — the season
  24. stock — goods

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