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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: mark · club · charge · safe · face · track · pitcher · mate

  1. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. face — part of the head
  3. mark — a grade
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. charge — electricity
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. track — to keep track
  9. track — a song
  10. face — to point toward
  11. charge — in control
  12. mate — a friend
  13. track — a path
  14. mark — a trace
  15. club — for dancing
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. mate — to breed
  19. club — for golf
  20. face — to confront
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. mate — a partner
  23. charge — a price
  24. pitcher — a jug

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