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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: lie · leaves · season · charge · fan · tube · date · key

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. tube — a container
  3. season — in sport
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. lie — to recline
  8. charge — electricity
  9. key — for a lock
  10. key — in music
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. tube — the underground
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. key — the most important part
  16. charge — a price
  17. charge — in control
  18. season — of the year
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. date — the fruit
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. lie — an untruth

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