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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.

Make a worksheet

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
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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: wake · bass · charge · ball · track · drill · staff · pitcher

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. staff — a stick
  3. track — a song
  4. wake — a trail
  5. drill — the tool
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. track — to keep track
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. ball — a dance
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. ball — a great time
  14. bass — the fish
  15. bass — low music
  16. track — a path
  17. staff — employees
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. charge — a price
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. staff — employees
  22. charge — in control
  23. drill — army training
  24. charge — electricity

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