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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
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: lean · mouse · charge · rush · face · stick · band · bowl

  1. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. charge — in control
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. rush — hurry
  10. charge — a price
  11. charge — electricity
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. face — part of the head
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. lean — to bend
  20. lean — thin
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. face — to point toward
  23. band — a ring
  24. face — to confront

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