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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.

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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: band · spell · ball · saw · charge · can · ruler · fan

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. can — a tin
  4. spell — a short time
  5. band — a music group
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. spell — magic
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. band — a ring
  11. charge — electricity
  12. charge — a price
  13. spell — letters
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. can — a tin
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. saw — the tool
  20. saw — the tool
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. ball — a great time
  23. charge — in control
  24. can — to be able to

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