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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. When was this ________________ built?
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. stand — to bear
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. stock — shares
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. craft — a skill
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. craft — boats
  14. plane — a tool
  15. charge — electricity
  16. content — happy
  17. charge — a price
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. content — the amount
  22. stock — goods
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. charge — in control

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