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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: ground · mark · charge · rush · safe · spell · snap · track

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. charge — in control
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. ground — crushed
  5. ground — the earth
  6. track — to keep track
  7. snap — to click
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. spell — a short time
  10. charge — a price
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. spell — letters
  14. mark — a grade
  15. track — a path
  16. charge — electricity
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. spell — magic
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. track — a song
  22. ground — a position
  23. rush — hurry
  24. safe — out of danger

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