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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
468
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: deal · nail · charge · rash · stand · land · track · stick

  1. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — ground
  2. track — a song
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. charge — in control
  6. track — a path
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. land — a country
  9. stand — to bear
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. charge — electricity
  12. charge — a price
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. land — to come down
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. rash — a series
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. rash — hasty
  21. deal — to handle
  22. track — to keep track
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. rash — on the skin

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