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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.

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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: charge · fine · ruler · snap · key · bulb · drill · hide

  1. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. charge — in control
  3. key — in music
  4. drill — the tool
  5. charge — a price
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. key — the most important part
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. key — for a lock
  12. fine — all right
  13. drill — army training
  14. snap — to click
  15. charge — electricity
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. fine — high quality
  18. bulb — for light
  19. drill — a practice
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. bulb — for light
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. hide — animal skin

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