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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 120 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. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. staff — employees
  3. charge — in control
  4. march — the month
  5. race — a contest
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. object — a thing
  8. object — to protest
  9. march — music
  10. staff — a stick
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. race — humankind
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. march — the month
  15. fine — all right
  16. staff — employees
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. charge — electricity
  21. branch — a division
  22. object — an aim
  23. fine — high quality
  24. charge — a price

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