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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 · mouse · calf · bass · stock · board · plane · stand

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. charge — a price
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. stand — to bear
  8. plane — a tool
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. charge — electricity
  12. charge — in control
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. bass — low music
  16. board — to get on
  17. stock — shares
  18. stock — goods
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. bass — the fish
  23. board — a committee
  24. plane — in geometry

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