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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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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: land · jam · bulb · charge · foot · row · plane · file

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. file — a line of people
  3. bulb — for light
  4. charge — a price
  5. bulb — for light
  6. row — a line
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. land — a country
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. charge — electricity
  11. charge — in control
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. foot — a measure
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. file — a tool
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. row — to paddle
  19. land — ground
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. file — a document
  22. plane — a tool
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. land — to come down

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