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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.

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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: pass · can · track · lash · stock · charge · current · bat

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. can — a tin
  6. stock — goods
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. track — a path
  9. current — of water
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. current — electric
  13. current — happening now
  14. charge — in control
  15. can — a tin
  16. charge — a price
  17. track — a song
  18. pass — a permit
  19. stock — shares
  20. can — to be able to
  21. track — to keep track
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. bat — the animal
  24. lash — to lash out

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