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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 120 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: mug · suit · rock · deal · bass · charge · stem · leaves

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. bass — low music
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. charge — in control
  5. rock — a stone
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. charge — a price
  8. mug — a face
  9. suit — in cards
  10. deal — to handle
  11. rock — music
  12. suit — clothes
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. mug — a cup
  18. suit — to fit
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. stem — to come from
  21. mug — to rob
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. bass — the fish

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