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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.

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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: perch · ruler · charge · jam · coach · game · tube · track

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. charge — electricity
  4. tube — a container
  5. tube — the underground
  6. track — to keep track
  7. game — wild animals
  8. track — a song
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. perch — the fish
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. charge — in control
  21. track — a path
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. charge — a price
  24. game — a match

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