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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 120 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: board · track · stock · charge · coach · fork · pass · current

  1. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — a garden tool
  2. stock — goods
  3. current — electric
  4. track — to keep track
  5. track — a path
  6. board — a committee
  7. charge — electricity
  8. current — happening now
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. pass — a permit
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. charge — in control
  16. charge — a price
  17. fork — in a road
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. board — to get on
  20. current — of water
  21. track — a song
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. stock — shares
  24. pass — to succeed

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