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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.

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: charge · spell · perch · spring · mark · rock · march · lie

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. spell — letters
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. perch — the fish
  7. rock — a stone
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. charge — electricity
  10. march — music
  11. march — the month
  12. rock — music
  13. spring — the season
  14. march — the month
  15. mark — a grade
  16. spell — magic
  17. spring — of water
  18. charge — in control
  19. charge — a price
  20. spring — a coil
  21. mark — a trace
  22. lie — to recline
  23. spell — a short time
  24. mark — to pay attention

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