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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: fine · pitch · coach · current · charge · bound · key · mine

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  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. coach — a trainer
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. current — electric
  4. charge — a price
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. key — in music
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. bound — certain
  9. bound — obliged
  10. charge — in control
  11. key — for a lock
  12. current — of water
  13. mine — for digging
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. fine — all right
  16. bound — tied together
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. charge — electricity
  19. pitch — completely
  20. fine — high quality
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. current — happening now
  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