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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 120 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: spring · suit · sharp · rock · pound · coach · charge · key

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. suit — clothes
  4. pound — a weight
  5. key — the most important part
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. charge — electricity
  8. key — for a lock
  9. spring — of water
  10. charge — a price
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. sharp — clever
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. pound — to hit hard
  15. rock — music
  16. spring — the season
  17. rock — a stone
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. suit — to fit
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. spring — a coil
  23. suit — in cards
  24. key — in music

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