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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.

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: board · current · roll · stick · degree · stem · lash · track

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. roll — a list
  3. degree — an amount
  4. board — to get on
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. degree — temperature
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. current — electric
  12. roll — a cake
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. current — of water
  16. board — a committee
  17. current — happening now
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. track — to keep track
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. track — a song
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. stem — to come from
  24. degree — from a university

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