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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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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 · lash · charge · leaves · track · calf · bear · chair

  1. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — a professorship
  2. charge — a price
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. track — to keep track
  6. charge — electricity
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. track — a path
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. track — a song
  13. bear — the animal
  14. deal — to handle
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. charge — in control
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. chair — a leader
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. bear — the animal
  22. chair — to sit on
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. calf — a young 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