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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 · dip · jam · foot · tube · fine · hide · scale

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. scale — in music
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. charge — in control
  7. fine — all right
  8. charge — a price
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. foot — a measure
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. scale — size or range
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. fine — high quality
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. charge — electricity
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. dip — to sink
  24. tube — a container

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