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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.

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: wound · pit · ball · fine · object · coach · dip · charge

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. charge — electricity
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. wound — an injury
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. charge — a price
  8. wound — an injury
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. ball — a dance
  11. fine — all right
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. charge — in control
  14. dip — to sink
  15. object — to protest
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. pit — in a race
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. fine — high quality
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. pit — a hole
  22. object — an aim
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. object — a thing

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