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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. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. charge — in control
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bound — certain
  5. charge — a price
  6. club — for dancing
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. club — for golf
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. charge — electricity
  16. key — the most important part
  17. key — for a lock
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. key — in music
  20. bound — obliged
  21. club — a group
  22. bound — tied together
  23. band — a ring
  24. bay — a horse colour

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