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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: mark · spell · racket · charge · jam · ball · chip · hide

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. spell — letters
  3. chip — to eat
  4. mark — a trace
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. charge — in control
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. spell — magic
  10. mark — a grade
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. charge — electricity
  19. charge — a price
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. spell — a short time
  22. ball — a dance
  23. chip — for betting
  24. chip — in a computer

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