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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: fine · bulb · fan · rush · wake · rock · charge · bound

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. rock — music
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. rock — a stone
  7. charge — in control
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. bulb — for light
  11. fine — all right
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. bound — obliged
  14. wake — a trail
  15. bulb — for light
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. fine — high quality
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. rush — hurry
  20. charge — a price
  21. bound — certain
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. charge — electricity

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