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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: charge · staff · rest · track · ruler · net · can · racket

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. track — a path
  3. net — after costs
  4. track — to keep track
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — a tin
  7. staff — employees
  8. track — a song
  9. rest — a break
  10. charge — electricity
  11. rest — what's left
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. net — for catching
  15. net — in sport
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. staff — employees
  20. charge — a price
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. staff — a stick
  23. can — to be able to
  24. charge — in control

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