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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: file · bay · branch · plane · charge · season · sharp · stand

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. branch — a division
  4. file — a document
  5. file — a line of people
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. charge — in control
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. plane — a tool
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. season — of the year
  12. charge — a price
  13. stand — to bear
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. charge — electricity
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. season — in sport
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. sharp — clever
  20. file — a tool
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. stand — for spectators

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