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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: bank · pound · spring · season · bowl · charge · board · foot

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. spring — a coil
  3. foot — a measure
  4. season — in sport
  5. pound — to hit hard
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. charge — electricity
  9. pound — a weight
  10. board — a committee
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. board — to get on
  13. bank — of a river
  14. season — of the year
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. spring — of water
  17. bank — for money
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. charge — a price
  20. pound — for dogs
  21. bank — for money
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. spring — the season

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