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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: pitcher · temple · object · bowl · deal · charge · pop · band

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. deal — to handle
  4. band — a music group
  5. pop — soda
  6. pop — to visit
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. pop — music
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. charge — in control
  13. object — a thing
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. charge — a price
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. object — to protest
  22. charge — electricity
  23. band — a ring
  24. temple — side of the head

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