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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: spring · roll · wound · deal · charge · mug · fan · bound

  1. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. charge — a price
  3. mug — a cup
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. wound — an injury
  6. deal — to handle
  7. roll — a cake
  8. wound — an injury
  9. bound — certain
  10. charge — in control
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. bound — tied together
  14. mug — to rob
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. spring — of water
  17. roll — a list
  18. mug — a face
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. bound — obliged
  22. spring — a coil
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. charge — electricity

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