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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.

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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. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  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. last — finally
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. plane — a tool
  5. charge — a price
  6. fall — to drop
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. vault — a safe
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. last — final
  16. fall — the season
  17. rush — hurry
  18. last — to go on
  19. sharp — clever
  20. charge — electricity
  21. fall — to drop
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. sharp — with an edge
  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