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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: key · board · net · foot · roll · pit · ruler · charge

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. pit — a hole
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. net — for catching
  6. charge — a price
  7. board — a committee
  8. net — after costs
  9. board — to get on
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. roll — a list
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. pit — in a race
  14. key — in music
  15. key — the most important part
  16. net — in sport
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. charge — in control
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. foot — a measure
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. charge — electricity
  23. key — for a lock
  24. foot — the bottom

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