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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
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: object · arm · cabinet · fork · fan · ball · charge · can

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. fork — a garden tool
  3. fork — in a road
  4. object — to protest
  5. can — a tin
  6. object — an aim
  7. charge — electricity
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. ball — a dance
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. can — to be able to
  15. can — a tin
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. ball — a great time
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. object — a thing
  22. charge — in control
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. fan — a supporter

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