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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: row · suit · sharp · patient · charge · pitch · deal · spring

  1. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. row — to paddle
  3. charge — electricity
  4. suit — clothes
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. suit — to fit
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. sharp — clever
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. charge — in control
  11. spring — of water
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. spring — a coil
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. deal — to handle
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. suit — in cards
  22. row — a line
  23. charge — a price
  24. pitch — completely

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