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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: mark · stick · board · rush · pass · charge · patient · track

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. charge — a price
  4. track — a path
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. rush — hurry
  8. mark — a grade
  9. charge — electricity
  10. track — to keep track
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. mark — a trace
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. pass — a permit
  17. board — to get on
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. track — a song
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. charge — in control
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. rush — to hurry

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