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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

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

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. bore — to tire
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. bank — for money
  5. season — in sport
  6. march — the month
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. bank — for money
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. march — music
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. key — the most important part
  13. bank — of a river
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. march — the month
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. charge — a price
  18. season — of the year
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. key — in music
  21. snap — to click
  22. charge — electricity
  23. bore — to drill
  24. key — for a lock

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