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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
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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: season · spell · ruler · rush · key · cold · hide · charge

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The water is too ________________.
  8. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. key — in music
  7. cold — not warm
  8. cold — the Cold War
  9. spell — letters
  10. spell — magic
  11. charge — electricity
  12. charge — in control
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. key — the most important part
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. spell — a short time
  18. season — in sport
  19. rush — hurry
  20. key — for a lock
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. charge — a price
  24. cold — an illness

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