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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: fork · charge · race · can · nail · stem · safe · board

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. charge — in control
  3. stem — to come from
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. board — a committee
  8. can — a tin
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. charge — a price
  11. can — a tin
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. can — to be able to
  14. charge — electricity
  15. race — a contest
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. race — the arms race
  20. board — to get on
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. race — humankind

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