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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: season · key · branch · spell · bass · lie · charge · press

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. charge — a price
  3. spell — a short time
  4. charge — in control
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. key — for a lock
  7. press — newspapers
  8. press — to push
  9. press — a publisher
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. spell — letters
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. bass — the fish
  15. season — of the year
  16. season — in sport
  17. charge — electricity
  18. key — in music
  19. bass — low music
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. lie — to recline
  23. branch — a division
  24. key — the most important part

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