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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: stock · bass · present · key · staff · safe · mug · charge

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. charge — a price
  4. stock — shares
  5. charge — electricity
  6. staff — employees
  7. mug — a cup
  8. staff — employees
  9. bass — the fish
  10. present — a gift
  11. present — the time now
  12. charge — in control
  13. bass — low music
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. mug — to rob
  16. stock — goods
  17. mug — a face
  18. key — the most important part
  19. present — there
  20. key — in music
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. key — for a lock
  23. staff — a stick
  24. safe — out of danger

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