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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
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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: fan · scale · temple · bear · wake · charge · key · coach

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. scale — in music
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. bear — the animal
  5. key — in music
  6. key — the most important part
  7. charge — in control
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. charge — electricity
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. key — for a lock
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. bear — the animal
  17. scale — size or range
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. wake — a trail
  22. charge — a price
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. coach — a trainer

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