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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: spell · arm · object · craft · ball · bass · charge · wound

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. spell — a short time
  3. craft — boats
  4. ball — a dance
  5. spell — magic
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. object — a thing
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. craft — a skill
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. object — to protest
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. charge — electricity
  15. spell — letters
  16. wound — an injury
  17. charge — in control
  18. object — an aim
  19. charge — a price
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. bass — low music
  22. wound — an injury
  23. ball — a great time
  24. arm — part of the body

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