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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: bulb · key · safe · wake · charge · bank · pitcher · spring

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. bulb — for light
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. spring — a coil
  6. spring — of water
  7. bulb — for light
  8. charge — a price
  9. key — in music
  10. key — for a lock
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. charge — in control
  13. wake — a trail
  14. bank — for money
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. bank — for money
  18. spring — the season
  19. bank — of a river
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. charge — electricity
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. wake — before a funeral

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