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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. plane — a tool
  4. charge — in control
  5. capital — a city
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. capital — money
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. capital — a big letter
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. object — to protest
  13. charge — electricity
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. object — an aim
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. wax — to grow
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. object — a thing
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. charge — a price

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