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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
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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: field · charge · can · mark · toast · board · scale · arm

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. toast — bread
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. field — a subject
  8. board — a committee
  9. field — farmland
  10. can — a tin
  11. scale — size or range
  12. charge — a price
  13. mark — a trace
  14. scale — in music
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. charge — electricity
  17. mark — a grade
  18. field — for sport
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. can — a tin
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. board — to get on
  23. can — to be able to
  24. toast — the most admired

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