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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. hand — in cards
  6. charge — a price
  7. plane — a tool
  8. rush — hurry
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. fall — to drop
  12. hand — help
  13. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. fall — the season
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. kid — to tease
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. fall — to drop
  22. kid — child
  23. charge — electricity
  24. temple — side of the head

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