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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
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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 · key · land · bank · nail · pop · arm · toast

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. pop — to visit
  4. bank — of a river
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. toast — bread
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. charge — a price
  10. charge — electricity
  11. key — the most important part
  12. land — ground
  13. bank — for money
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. land — to come down
  16. pop — soda
  17. key — for a lock
  18. key — in music
  19. charge — in control
  20. land — a country
  21. pop — music
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. nail — for a hammer

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