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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
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: rock · stock · lash · tube · track · bay · charge · wave

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. rock — music
  3. charge — electricity
  4. stock — goods
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. stock — shares
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. track — a path
  9. rock — a stone
  10. track — a song
  11. track — to keep track
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. charge — a price
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. tube — a container
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. tube — the underground
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. charge — in control
  24. stock — a soup base

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