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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. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. squash — to crush
  3. charge — a price
  4. ball — a dance
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. pass — a permit
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. staff — a stick
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. staff — employees
  14. deal — to handle
  15. charge — electricity
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. pit — in a race
  19. ball — a great time
  20. squash — the sport
  21. charge — in control
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. staff — employees

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