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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: mug · firm · spell · fan · charge · calf · rock · roll

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. charge — in control
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. mug — a cup
  8. firm — decided
  9. spell — magic
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. spell — letters
  12. mug — to rob
  13. spell — a short time
  14. roll — a list
  15. mug — a face
  16. charge — electricity
  17. roll — a cake
  18. firm — steady
  19. firm — a company
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. rock — a stone
  24. rock — music

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