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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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: track · lie · board · field · fork · coach · charge · root

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. field — a subject
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. charge — in control
  6. charge — electricity
  7. root — of a word
  8. track — a song
  9. lie — to recline
  10. root — of a plant
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. field — farmland
  14. board — a committee
  15. track — a path
  16. track — to keep track
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. charge — a price
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. board — to get on
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. root — the cause
  23. field — for sport
  24. fork — in a road

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