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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 120 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: track · lie · firm · straw · charge · board · racket · wave

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. straw — a straw man
  4. firm — a company
  5. charge — a price
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. track — to keep track
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. firm — steady
  12. board — a committee
  13. track — a song
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. board — to get on
  18. straw — dry grass
  19. track — a path
  20. charge — electricity
  21. lie — to recline
  22. charge — in control
  23. firm — decided
  24. straw — to clutch at straws

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