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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: march · charge · track · bass · net · safe · mug · object

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. march — the month
  3. bass — the fish
  4. charge — in control
  5. march — music
  6. net — after costs
  7. object — to protest
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. mug — a face
  10. net — for catching
  11. object — a thing
  12. track — a path
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. bass — low music
  15. charge — a price
  16. charge — electricity
  17. track — to keep track
  18. mug — to rob
  19. net — in sport
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. track — a song
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. mug — a cup
  24. march — the month

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