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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: nail · track · object · charge · current · trunk · kid · ruler

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. charge — a price
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. kid — to tease
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. current — electric
  9. charge — electricity
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. current — of water
  12. object — an aim
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. current — happening now
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. track — a song
  18. track — a path
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. track — to keep track
  21. charge — in control
  22. kid — child
  23. object — to protest
  24. kid — young goat (kid gloves)

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