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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: plane · ruler · toast · bear · charge · staff · march · wind

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  8. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. charge — electricity
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. march — the month
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. wind — to turn a key
  8. wind — moving air
  9. march — the month
  10. bear — the animal
  11. staff — a stick
  12. march — music
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. bear — the animal
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. plane — a tool
  19. charge — in control
  20. toast — bread
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. staff — employees
  23. wind — moving air
  24. staff — employees

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