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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.

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: ruler · cabinet · season · track · wound · safe · charge · bass

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. wound — an injury
  4. charge — a price
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. charge — in control
  14. season — of the year
  15. wound — an injury
  16. bass — the fish
  17. charge — electricity
  18. season — in sport
  19. track — a path
  20. track — to keep track
  21. track — a song
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. bass — low 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