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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. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. charge — in control
  3. ground — the earth
  4. charge — electricity
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. scale — in music
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. charge — a price
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. ground — a position
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. ground — crushed
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. mine — for digging
  23. scale — size or range
  24. deal — to handle

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