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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.

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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: spell · rest · mark · game · ground · charge · lie · bound

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. ground — a position
  3. mark — a grade
  4. bound — certain
  5. spell — magic
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. charge — a price
  8. game — a match
  9. game — wild animals
  10. bound — tied together
  11. bound — obliged
  12. spell — letters
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. spell — a short time
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. rest — what's left
  17. rest — a break
  18. ground — crushed
  19. rest — what's left
  20. lie — to recline
  21. mark — a trace
  22. charge — in control
  23. charge — electricity
  24. mark — to pay attention

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