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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: charge · dip · suit · clip · toast · nail · fan · ruler

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. suit — to fit
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. suit — in cards
  6. charge — a price
  7. clip — to cut
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. clip — for paper
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. toast — bread
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. charge — electricity
  15. dip — to sink
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. charge — in control
  19. suit — clothes
  20. clip — a video
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. nail — for a hammer

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