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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: dip · mark · charge · hand · band · fine · bowl · mine

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. charge — a price
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. charge — in control
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. fine — high quality
  10. mark — a trace
  11. mine — for digging
  12. fine — all right
  13. band — a ring
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. dip — to sink
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. charge — electricity
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. band — a music group
  21. hand — in cards
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. hand — help
  24. mark — a grade

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