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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: roll · key · charge · jam · march · present · can · bound

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. present — a gift
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. bound — obliged
  6. can — a tin
  7. charge — a price
  8. key — for a lock
  9. roll — a cake
  10. bound — tied together
  11. march — music
  12. bound — certain
  13. can — to be able to
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. present — the time now
  16. key — in music
  17. march — the month
  18. key — the most important part
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. roll — a list
  21. march — the month
  22. present — there
  23. charge — electricity
  24. can — a tin

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