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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 116 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: racket · current · deal · track · bass · kid · charge · mark

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. bass — the fish
  4. charge — electricity
  5. current — happening now
  6. kid — to tease
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. mark — a grade
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. mark — a trace
  12. bass — low music
  13. charge — a price
  14. deal — to handle
  15. charge — in control
  16. kid — child
  17. track — a path
  18. current — electric
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. current — of water
  23. track — to keep track
  24. racket — a loud noise

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