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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: mark · suit · pitcher · charge · object · nail · foot · arm

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. object — to protest
  3. charge — in control
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. suit — to fit
  11. suit — in cards
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. mark — a trace
  15. mark — a grade
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. charge — a price
  19. object — a thing
  20. foot — a measure
  21. object — an aim
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. suit — clothes
  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