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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: dip · charge · suit · present · net · wake · ball · can

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. suit — clothes
  3. ball — a dance
  4. wake — a trail
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. net — after costs
  7. net — in sport
  8. dip — to sink
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. present — a gift
  12. charge — a price
  13. ball — a great time
  14. present — there
  15. can — to be able to
  16. suit — in cards
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. present — the time now
  19. can — a tin
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. net — for catching
  22. suit — to fit
  23. can — a tin
  24. charge — electricity

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