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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: key · leaves · bound · charge · can · sharp · saw · lash

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. can — a tin
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. key — the most important part
  6. charge — a price
  7. charge — electricity
  8. can — to be able to
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. bound — tied together
  11. charge — in control
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. key — in music
  14. sharp — clever
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. bound — obliged
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. key — for a lock
  19. bound — certain
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. can — a tin
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. saw — the tool

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