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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: fine · cabinet · staff · deal · bank · band · spell · charge

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. charge — in control
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. spell — letters
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. staff — employees
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. staff — a stick
  11. charge — a price
  12. spell — magic
  13. spell — a short time
  14. charge — electricity
  15. bank — for money
  16. bank — of a river
  17. staff — employees
  18. band — a music group
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. bank — for money
  21. fine — all right
  22. fine — high quality
  23. deal — to handle
  24. band — a ring

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