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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: nail · lean · charge · cue · coach · ball · land · rock

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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. land — a country
  4. rock — a stone
  5. charge — a price
  6. lean — to bend
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. land — ground
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. ball — a dance
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. ball — a great time
  17. charge — electricity
  18. cue — a hint
  19. lean — thin
  20. cue — for pool
  21. rock — music
  22. cue — a signal
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. land — to come down

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