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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: tube · jam · charge · nail · board · fan · fine · pound

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. pound — a weight
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. pound — for dogs
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. fine — high quality
  13. tube — the underground
  14. board — a committee
  15. charge — a price
  16. charge — electricity
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. charge — in control
  19. tube — a container
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. board — to get on
  23. fine — all right
  24. pound — to hit hard

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