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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: toast · spring · stock · charge · lash · board · cue · mate

  1. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. mate — a partner
  4. charge — in control
  5. charge — a price
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. charge — electricity
  9. mate — a friend
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. stock — goods
  12. spring — a coil
  13. stock — shares
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. cue — a signal
  16. spring — of water
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. board — a committee
  19. mate — to breed
  20. toast — bread
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. cue — for pool
  23. cue — a hint
  24. board — to get on

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