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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: coach · fan · charge · pitch · cap · drill · board · dip

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. board — to get on
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. charge — in control
  7. drill — army training
  8. charge — electricity
  9. drill — a practice
  10. board — a committee
  11. pitch — completely
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. charge — a price
  14. drill — the tool
  15. cap — a lid
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. cap — of ice
  19. dip — to sink
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. cap — a hat

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