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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.

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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: capital · charge · swing · can · net · tube · track · cue

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  17. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. tube — a container
  3. net — for catching
  4. can — a tin
  5. track — to keep track
  6. cue — a hint
  7. net — in sport
  8. capital — a city
  9. charge — in control
  10. can — to be able to
  11. cue — for pool
  12. track — a path
  13. charge — electricity
  14. can — a tin
  15. swing — music
  16. swing — in golf
  17. capital — money
  18. cue — a signal
  19. net — after costs
  20. swing — to play on
  21. tube — the underground
  22. capital — a big letter
  23. charge — a price
  24. tube — in a tire

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