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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.

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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: net · charge · calf · land · track · board · cabinet · ground

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. track — to keep track
  6. net — in sport
  7. board — to get on
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. net — after costs
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. track — a song
  12. land — to come down
  13. land — ground
  14. land — a country
  15. ground — the earth
  16. charge — a price
  17. ground — a position
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. net — for catching
  20. ground — crushed
  21. charge — electricity
  22. track — a path
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. board — a committee

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