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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: plane · field · present · swing · charge · nail · net · pitcher

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. net — for catching
  3. present — there
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. field — farmland
  9. swing — to play on
  10. swing — music
  11. net — in sport
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. net — after costs
  14. charge — a price
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. field — a subject
  18. present — a gift
  19. swing — in golf
  20. charge — electricity
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. present — the time now
  23. plane — a tool
  24. field — for sport

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