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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 · racket · ball · wax · object · roll · charge · ground

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. object — a thing
  3. ball — a great time
  4. wax — to grow
  5. ground — crushed
  6. charge — a price
  7. object — an aim
  8. ball — a dance
  9. roll — a list
  10. track — a song
  11. charge — in control
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. charge — electricity
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. ground — a position
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. track — to keep track
  20. roll — a cake
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. object — to protest
  24. track — a path

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