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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: charge · track · staff · jam · fine · stock · can · rush

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. fine — high quality
  3. charge — in control
  4. staff — employees
  5. track — a path
  6. stock — goods
  7. can — a tin
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. can — to be able to
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. stock — shares
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. charge — electricity
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. fine — all right
  19. staff — a stick
  20. can — a tin
  21. staff — employees
  22. track — to keep track
  23. charge — a price
  24. rush — 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