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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: spring · safe · fine · rash · mouse · charge · stem · bear

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. charge — a price
  3. spring — of water
  4. charge — electricity
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. fine — high quality
  8. charge — in control
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. fine — all right
  11. bear — the animal
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. stem — to come from
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. spring — the season
  16. spring — a coil
  17. rash — hasty
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. bear — the animal
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. rash — a series
  24. bear — to put up with

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