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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 116 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: racket · charge · lie · tube · coach · spell · wax · stock

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. spell — a short time
  4. charge — a price
  5. spell — magic
  6. tube — the underground
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. charge — electricity
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. wax — to grow
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. spell — letters
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. lie — to recline
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. stock — shares
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. stock — goods
  24. tube — a container

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