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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: scale · cap · sharp · charge · fan · mouse · temple · deal

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. charge — a price
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. scale — in music
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. charge — electricity
  9. cap — a hat
  10. charge — in control
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. deal — to handle
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. cap — a lid
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. sharp — clever
  22. scale — size or range
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. cap — of ice

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