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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: game · charge · saw · pop · coach · lean · key · bowl

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. saw — the tool
  4. key — in music
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. lean — thin
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. pop — to visit
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. saw — the tool
  11. game — a match
  12. charge — in control
  13. pop — soda
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. pop — music
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. charge — electricity
  20. game — wild animals
  21. key — the most important part
  22. charge — a price
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. key — for a lock

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