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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.

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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 · can · stick · fan · vault · spell · rock · sharp

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. vault — a safe
  3. can — to be able to
  4. spell — magic
  5. rock — a stone
  6. sharp — clever
  7. charge — in control
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. spell — letters
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. can — a tin
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. charge — a price
  18. can — a tin
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. rock — music
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. charge — electricity
  24. spell — a short time

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