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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: fan · wave · band · board · scale · mug · charge · coach

  1. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a ring
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. scale — size or range
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. band — a music group
  7. mug — to rob
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. charge — a price
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. charge — in control
  12. board — a committee
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. charge — electricity
  15. scale — in music
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. mug — a face
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. mug — a cup
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. board — to get on
  24. scale — for weighing

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