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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: spell · ground · bass · charge · key · vault · stand · rock

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. key — for a lock
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. rock — music
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. charge — a price
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. spell — magic
  9. ground — the earth
  10. spell — a short time
  11. ground — a position
  12. key — in music
  13. charge — electricity
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. ground — crushed
  16. stand — to bear
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. key — the most important part
  19. rock — a stone
  20. vault — a safe
  21. bass — low music
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. spell — letters
  24. charge — in control

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