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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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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: racket · board · charge · spell · firm · ball · suit · dip

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. firm — a company
  5. charge — electricity
  6. board — to get on
  7. suit — in cards
  8. charge — a price
  9. ball — a great time
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. suit — to fit
  13. charge — in control
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. spell — magic
  16. spell — letters
  17. ball — a dance
  18. firm — decided
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. board — a committee
  21. dip — to sink
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. suit — clothes
  24. firm — steady

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