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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: mug · lie · net · cell · calf · charge · rash · track

  1. He was locked up in a ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  13. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in a prison
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. mug — a cup
  4. track — a song
  5. charge — electricity
  6. rash — a series
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. mug — to rob
  10. net — after costs
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. cell — a phone
  13. cell — in biology
  14. rash — hasty
  15. mug — a face
  16. track — to keep track
  17. track — a path
  18. charge — in control
  19. net — in sport
  20. net — for catching
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. charge — a price
  23. lie — to recline
  24. lie — an untruth

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