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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: track · row · bound · deal · cue · charge · mark · ball

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. charge — in control
  3. row — a line
  4. bound — tied together
  5. cue — a signal
  6. mark — a grade
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. track — to keep track
  9. cue — for pool
  10. bound — certain
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. bound — obliged
  14. ball — a great time
  15. cue — a hint
  16. charge — a price
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. row — to paddle
  19. track — a path
  20. charge — electricity
  21. ball — a dance
  22. mark — a trace
  23. deal — to handle
  24. deal — an agreement

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