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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: game · file · deal · mug · ball · pitcher · mark · charge

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. ball — a dance
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. mark — a grade
  5. charge — in control
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. mug — to rob
  10. file — a line of people
  11. game — wild animals
  12. mug — a cup
  13. deal — to handle
  14. ball — a great time
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. game — a match
  17. charge — a price
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. file — a tool
  20. charge — electricity
  21. mark — a trace
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mug — a face
  24. ball — a round shape

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