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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 116 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: fan · trunk · charge · pass · race · dip · saw · racket

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. saw — the tool
  4. race — a contest
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. charge — a price
  10. saw — the tool
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. pass — a permit
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. race — humankind
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. race — the arms race
  19. charge — electricity
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. charge — in control
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. racket — a loud noise

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