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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: coach · charge · file · stock · pass · bass · jam · roll

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. roll — a list
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. roll — a cake
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. bass — the fish
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. stock — shares
  9. file — a line of people
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. stock — goods
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. charge — electricity
  14. pass — a permit
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. file — a document
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. file — a tool
  22. bass — low music
  23. charge — a price
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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