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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.

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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
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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: board · ball · pop · mug · mine · charge · lash · fork

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. mug — a face
  3. board — to get on
  4. pop — to visit
  5. board — a committee
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. mug — to rob
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. charge — in control
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. charge — electricity
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. pop — soda
  16. charge — a price
  17. ball — a dance
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. pop — music
  20. mug — a cup
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. mine — for digging
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. ball — a great time

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