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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 · temple · suit · bass · key · charge · deal · hide

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. deal — to handle
  3. bass — the fish
  4. key — for a lock
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. charge — electricity
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. bass — low music
  10. key — in music
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. key — the most important part
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. suit — clothes
  19. charge — a price
  20. charge — in control
  21. game — a match
  22. game — wild animals
  23. suit — to fit
  24. suit — in cards

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