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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 116 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: rock · pop · wax · suit · charge · bound · spring · racket

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. bound — tied together
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. charge — a price
  5. bound — certain
  6. rock — a stone
  7. suit — in cards
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. pop — to visit
  10. suit — to fit
  11. spring — the season
  12. pop — soda
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. bound — obliged
  15. charge — electricity
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. suit — clothes
  18. rock — music
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. spring — of water
  22. spring — a coil
  23. wax — to grow
  24. charge — in control

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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