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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 120 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 · ball · vault · saw · charge · foot · swing · ruler

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. David sat on 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. foot — part of the body
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. charge — electricity
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. vault — a safe
  6. charge — a price
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. track — to keep track
  9. ball — a dance
  10. ball — a great time
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. charge — in control
  14. foot — a measure
  15. track — a path
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. saw — the tool
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. swing — music
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. swing — in golf
  23. swing — to play on
  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