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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
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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: track · hide · charge · sharp · craft · pitcher · rash · lie

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  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. pitcher — in baseball
  2. charge — electricity
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. rash — hasty
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. craft — boats
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. sharp — clever
  12. rash — a series
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. track — a path
  18. lie — to recline
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. craft — a skill
  21. charge — a price
  22. track — to keep track
  23. track — a song
  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