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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: charge · bound · fan · bass · season · coach · roll · suit

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. bound — tied together
  3. season — of the year
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. bass — the fish
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. suit — clothes
  10. bass — low music
  11. roll — a cake
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. charge — a price
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. roll — a list
  16. charge — in control
  17. suit — to fit
  18. season — in sport
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bound — certain
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. bound — obliged
  23. charge — electricity
  24. bass — the instrument

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