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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: safe · charge · spring · arm · tube · bass · object · swing

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. spring — a coil
  3. charge — in control
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. object — an aim
  6. spring — the season
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bass — low music
  9. tube — the underground
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. object — a thing
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. object — to protest
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. bass — the fish
  17. spring — of water
  18. charge — electricity
  19. swing — music
  20. swing — to play on
  21. tube — a container
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. swing — in golf

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