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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: mouse · bore · deal · key · lean · press · charge · clip

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. lean — to bend
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. clip — for paper
  5. charge — electricity
  6. key — in music
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. key — the most important part
  9. bore — to drill
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bore — to tire
  12. clip — to cut
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. key — for a lock
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. press — to push
  17. press — newspapers
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. charge — in control
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. charge — a price
  22. press — a publisher
  23. clip — a video
  24. lean — thin

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