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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: mate · lie · lean · jam · charge · plane · saw · fork

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. lie — to recline
  3. charge — electricity
  4. lean — thin
  5. saw — the tool
  6. charge — in control
  7. plane — a tool
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. mate — to breed
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. mate — a friend
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. lean — to bend
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. mate — a partner
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. charge — a price
  22. fork — in a road
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. saw — the tool

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