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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
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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: pass · fine · lash · charge · track · stick · roll · date

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. fine — all right
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. track — a song
  5. pass — a permit
  6. track — a path
  7. roll — a list
  8. charge — electricity
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. track — to keep track
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. charge — a price
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. fine — high quality
  16. roll — a cake
  17. charge — in control
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. date — the fruit
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. pass — to spend 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