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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: ball · roll · chair · scale · charge · spring · can · bowl

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. chair — a leader
  3. spring — of water
  4. spring — a coil
  5. chair — to sit on
  6. roll — a cake
  7. ball — a great time
  8. scale — in music
  9. charge — electricity
  10. spring — the season
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. scale — size or range
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. charge — a price
  15. roll — a list
  16. charge — in control
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. can — a tin
  23. ball — a dance
  24. chair — a professorship

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