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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: wave · cue · track · mark · key · charge · kick · board

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. charge — in control
  3. charge — electricity
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. kick — a thrill
  8. track — a path
  9. track — to keep track
  10. charge — a price
  11. key — for a lock
  12. track — a song
  13. cue — a signal
  14. cue — a hint
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. cue — for pool
  17. mark — a trace
  18. key — the most important part
  19. board — a committee
  20. kick — with a leg
  21. key — in music
  22. board — to get on
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. kick — in football

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