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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: lash · fan · sharp · key · rash · track · charge · cabinet

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. track — a path
  4. track — a song
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. rash — hasty
  7. rash — a series
  8. key — the most important part
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. track — to keep track
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. charge — electricity
  13. key — for a lock
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. charge — a price
  16. charge — in control
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. sharp — clever
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. lash — an eyelash

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