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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
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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: lean · track · squash · scale · charge · tube · object · lie

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. charge — electricity
  3. object — an aim
  4. lean — thin
  5. lie — to recline
  6. object — to protest
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. lean — to bend
  10. tube — the underground
  11. track — a path
  12. scale — in music
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. scale — size or range
  16. squash — the sport
  17. charge — in control
  18. track — a song
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. charge — a price
  21. track — to keep track
  22. squash — to crush
  23. tube — a container
  24. object — a thing

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