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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: track · nail · racket · foot · charge · face · bank · spell

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. spell — a short time
  4. face — to confront
  5. spell — magic
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. charge — a price
  8. bank — for money
  9. charge — electricity
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. bank — for money
  12. foot — a measure
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. track — a path
  16. face — to point toward
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. track — to keep track
  19. spell — letters
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. charge — in control
  22. bank — of a river
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. face — part of the head

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