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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: degree · bank · land · toast · ball · bulb · mouse · charge

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. degree — temperature
  3. charge — electricity
  4. toast — bread
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. ball — a dance
  8. degree — an amount
  9. bulb — for light
  10. degree — from a university
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. ball — a great time
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. bank — for money
  15. land — a country
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. land — to come down
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. bulb — for light
  20. charge — in control
  21. land — ground
  22. bank — for money
  23. bank — of a river
  24. charge — a price

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