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

Word bank: wound · snap · leaves · deal · charge · firm · bat · bay

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. charge — electricity
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. wound — an injury
  7. bat — for baseball
  8. deal — to handle
  9. firm — a company
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. snap — to click
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. bat — in an idiom
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. wound — an injury
  20. charge — a price
  21. firm — steady
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. firm — decided
  24. bat — the animal

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