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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 120 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
468
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: rock · lie · season · fine · bowl · drill · racket · charge

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. drill — the tool
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. drill — army training
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. fine — all right
  10. charge — in control
  11. season — in sport
  12. lie — to recline
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. rock — a stone
  16. drill — a practice
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. fine — high quality
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. rock — music
  21. charge — electricity
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. charge — a price
  24. racket — a loud noise

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