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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: charge · rock · bass · lie · racket · key · bear · bank

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. charge — electricity
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. charge — a price
  7. bank — for money
  8. rock — a stone
  9. key — in music
  10. bank — for money
  11. bass — the fish
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. bank — of a river
  14. lie — to recline
  15. bear — the animal
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. key — the most important part
  19. bass — low music
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. charge — in control
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. bear — the animal
  24. rock — music

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