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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: drill · charge · plane · band · pound · spring · key · toast

  1. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. pound — for dogs
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. spring — of water
  5. spring — a coil
  6. charge — in control
  7. pound — to hit hard
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. key — in music
  10. drill — a practice
  11. drill — the tool
  12. spring — the season
  13. charge — electricity
  14. band — a ring
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. pound — a weight
  18. key — for a lock
  19. toast — bread
  20. drill — army training
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. plane — a tool
  23. charge — a price
  24. key — the most important part

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