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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: toast · charge · deal · band · leaves · rock · bank · pitcher

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. charge — electricity
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. band — a music group
  7. toast — bread
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. band — a ring
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. bank — for money
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. deal — to handle
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. rock — music
  16. bank — of a river
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. bank — for money
  20. charge — a price
  21. charge — in control
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. rock — a stone

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