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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 120 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: nail · pitcher · squash · stand · fork · mouse · present · charge

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. present — the time now
  3. fork — in a road
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. present — a gift
  6. stand — to bear
  7. squash — to crush
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. charge — in control
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. present — there
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. charge — a price
  16. charge — electricity
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. squash — the sport
  24. stand — on your feet

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