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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 116 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: bank · tube · key · last · rest · charge · ruler · pop

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. last — finally
  3. last — to go on
  4. charge — in control
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. rest — what's left
  7. bank — of a river
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. bank — for money
  10. key — for a lock
  11. key — in music
  12. pop — to visit
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. tube — the underground
  15. tube — a container
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bank — for money
  18. key — the most important part
  19. pop — music
  20. pop — soda
  21. rest — a break
  22. charge — a price
  23. rest — what's left
  24. last — final

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