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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: bore · band · charge · drill · pass · perch · leaves · key

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. band — a music group
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. band — a ring
  5. key — for a lock
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. charge — a price
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. drill — the tool
  11. charge — in control
  12. charge — electricity
  13. bore — to tire
  14. drill — a practice
  15. key — in music
  16. band — a rubber band
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. bore — to drill
  20. perch — the fish
  21. pass — a permit
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. key — the most important part
  24. drill — army training

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