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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: charge · deal · season · pop · can · key · wave · trunk

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. season — of the year
  3. can — a tin
  4. pop — soda
  5. charge — a price
  6. can — to be able to
  7. key — for a lock
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. deal — to handle
  11. key — in music
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. charge — electricity
  15. can — a tin
  16. season — in sport
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. pop — music
  19. charge — in control
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. key — the most important part
  23. pop — to visit
  24. wave — with your hand

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