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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.

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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: charge · rock · pitcher · jam · pit · court · ball · hide

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. court — of a king
  3. pit — a hole
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. ball — a great time
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. ball — a dance
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pit — in a race
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. rock — music
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. charge — electricity
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. rock — a stone
  18. charge — a price
  19. court — for sport
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. court — of law
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. jam — in traffic

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