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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: pit · fork · track · snap · nail · charge · fine · net

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. charge — a price
  3. charge — in control
  4. snap — to click
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. fork — in a road
  7. net — for catching
  8. fine — high quality
  9. charge — electricity
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. fine — all right
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. net — after costs
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. pit — a hole
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. track — a path
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. track — to keep track
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. net — in sport
  24. track — a song

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