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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 · nail · saw · coach · rock · track · mate · cap

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. cap — of ice
  4. charge — a price
  5. track — a song
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. cap — a lid
  8. charge — electricity
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. mate — to breed
  11. track — to keep track
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. saw — the tool
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. mate — a friend
  16. track — a path
  17. saw — the tool
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. rock — music
  21. mate — a partner
  22. rock — a stone
  23. cap — a hat
  24. nail — for a hammer

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