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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: racket · suit · mine · ball · capital · coach · charge · foot

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. foot — a measure
  4. suit — clothes
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. suit — to fit
  9. mine — for digging
  10. charge — in control
  11. suit — in cards
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. capital — a city
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. ball — a great time
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. capital — a big letter
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. capital — money
  22. ball — a dance
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. charge — a price

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