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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: ruler · charge · arm · hand · can · pitch · jam · fall

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. fall — to drop
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. charge — a price
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. fall — to drop
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. hand — in cards
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. hand — help
  15. fall — the season
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — to be able to
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. can — a tin
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. pitch — completely
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. charge — electricity

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