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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
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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: rush · dip · bound · bass · track · bear · charge · lie

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. track — to keep track
  3. bound — tied together
  4. rush — hurry
  5. bear — the animal
  6. bass — the fish
  7. dip — to sink
  8. bound — certain
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. track — a path
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. track — a song
  18. lie — to recline
  19. charge — electricity
  20. bound — obliged
  21. bass — low music
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. bear — the animal
  24. charge — a price

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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