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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: rash · calf · firm · net · track · press · cue · charge

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. track — to keep track
  3. rash — hasty
  4. track — a song
  5. firm — a company
  6. firm — steady
  7. charge — electricity
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. press — to push
  10. cue — for pool
  11. firm — decided
  12. track — a path
  13. charge — a price
  14. cue — a signal
  15. press — newspapers
  16. charge — in control
  17. cue — a hint
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. net — after costs
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. press — a publisher
  22. net — for catching
  23. net — in sport
  24. rash — a series

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