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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.

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: foot · pitch · game · kick · track · can · ruler · charge

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. can — a tin
  3. charge — electricity
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. track — a path
  7. game — a match
  8. pitch — completely
  9. kick — in football
  10. can — to be able to
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. track — to keep track
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. kick — with a leg
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. foot — a measure
  18. can — a tin
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. track — a song
  21. game — wild animals
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. charge — a price
  24. charge — in control

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