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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: object · cap · pitch · press · toast · track · charge · tube

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. object — a thing
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. toast — bread
  5. object — to protest
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. press — to push
  8. pitch — completely
  9. charge — in control
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. charge — a price
  12. press — a publisher
  13. tube — the underground
  14. cap — a hat
  15. cap — of ice
  16. charge — electricity
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. cap — a lid
  19. track — to keep track
  20. tube — a container
  21. track — a path
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. track — a song
  24. press — newspapers

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