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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: sharp · fine · tube · charge · tear · mug · track · ground

  1. There's no middle ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. sharp — clever
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. tear — to rip
  5. tube — a container
  6. track — a path
  7. ground — crushed
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. fine — all right
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. fine — high quality
  12. mug — a cup
  13. charge — electricity
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. track — a song
  16. tear — from crying
  17. charge — a price
  18. tear — from crying
  19. charge — in control
  20. ground — the earth
  21. track — to keep track
  22. mug — to rob
  23. tube — the underground
  24. mug — a face

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