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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: scale · ball · track · net · wake · charge · pass · fan

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. charge — in control
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. pass — a permit
  5. ball — a great time
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. charge — a price
  9. net — in sport
  10. track — a song
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. ball — a dance
  14. wake — a trail
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. charge — electricity
  17. net — after costs
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. scale — size or range
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. net — for catching
  23. track — a path
  24. track — to keep track

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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