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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: stem · lash · track · charge · pound · lean · date · rock

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. charge — a price
  4. lean — thin
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. pound — a weight
  7. rock — a stone
  8. pound — for dogs
  9. date — the fruit
  10. track — to keep track
  11. rock — music
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. charge — in control
  14. charge — electricity
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. stem — to come from
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. track — a song
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. lean — to bend
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. date — on the calendar

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