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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: mark · key · charge · safe · bulb · bound · stick · court

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. key — for a lock
  3. bound — certain
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. court — of law
  6. mark — a grade
  7. key — in music
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. charge — electricity
  13. bound — tied together
  14. charge — a price
  15. court — for sport
  16. court — of a king
  17. key — the most important part
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bound — obliged
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. bulb — for light
  22. charge — in control
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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