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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: mine · lean · charge · track · wound · suit · bowl · safe

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. track — a path
  3. suit — in cards
  4. charge — a price
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. charge — electricity
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. wound — an injury
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. charge — in control
  13. lean — to bend
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. mine — for digging
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. lean — thin
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. suit — clothes
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. track — to keep track
  23. track — a song
  24. wound — an injury

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