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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.

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: charge · suit · deal · season · lash · chip · board · file

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  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. board — to get on
  2. suit — to fit
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. file — a document
  5. charge — electricity
  6. chip — for betting
  7. file — a line of people
  8. file — a tool
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. suit — clothes
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. season — in sport
  15. charge — a price
  16. board — a committee
  17. chip — to eat
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. suit — in cards
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. season — of the year
  23. charge — in control
  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