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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: charge · mark · lash · coach · snap · board · prune · perch

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. charge — in control
  3. prune — to trim
  4. mark — a trace
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. charge — electricity
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. board — a committee
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. prune — to trim
  13. charge — a price
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. perch — the fish
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. mark — a grade
  22. board — to get on
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. snap — to click

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