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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
468
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: cabinet · mouse · rock · bank · bay · band · charge · plane

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  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. bay — a part of the sea
  2. charge — electricity
  3. rock — music
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. bank — for money
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. band — a ring
  10. rock — a stone
  11. charge — a price
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. bank — of a river
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. plane — a tool
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. bank — for money
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. band — a music group
  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