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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: net · pass · charge · board · swing · cap · mouse · mark

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. David sat on the ________________.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. cap — a hat
  4. swing — music
  5. swing — to play on
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. cap — of ice
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. mark — a trace
  12. charge — electricity
  13. net — after costs
  14. pass — a permit
  15. board — to get on
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. mark — a grade
  18. swing — in golf
  19. charge — a price
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. net — for catching
  22. charge — in control
  23. net — in sport
  24. board — a committee

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