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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. field — a subject
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. field — for sport
  7. charge — electricity
  8. field — farmland
  9. land — a country
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. vault — a safe
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. land — ground
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. land — to come down
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. charge — a price
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. wake — a trail

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