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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: track · ball · press · charge · nail · craft · can · wave

  1. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — boats
  2. press — to push
  3. can — to be able to
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. charge — in control
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — a tin
  8. ball — a great time
  9. press — a publisher
  10. press — newspapers
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. track — to keep track
  14. craft — a skill
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. charge — a price
  17. charge — electricity
  18. ball — a dance
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. track — a song
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. track — a path
  24. nail — for a hammer

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