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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 124 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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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: deal · suit · row · rush · mate · object · charge · foot

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. suit — clothes
  4. object — an aim
  5. rush — hurry
  6. deal — to handle
  7. charge — in control
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. row — a line
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. object — to protest
  13. charge — a price
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. mate — a friend
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. suit — in cards
  18. mate — a partner
  19. suit — to fit
  20. foot — a measure
  21. row — to paddle
  22. mate — to breed
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. object — a thing

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