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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.

Make a worksheet

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

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. charge — electricity
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. chip — to eat
  8. squash — to crush
  9. charge — a price
  10. key — the most important part
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. key — for a lock
  17. squash — the sport
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. chip — for betting
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. branch — a division
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. key — in music
  24. charge — in control

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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