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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 · band · ruler · racket · nail · wind · track · leaves

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  14. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.

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. charge — electricity
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. wind — moving air
  10. charge — a price
  11. band — a ring
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. wind — to turn a key
  14. wind — moving air
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. track — to keep track
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. track — a path
  24. band — a music group

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