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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
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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: wave · charge · temple · rock · plane · ball · stock · firm

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. rock — music
  3. charge — electricity
  4. rock — a stone
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. charge — in control
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. firm — decided
  12. firm — a company
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. stock — goods
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. charge — a price
  19. ball — a dance
  20. firm — steady
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. plane — a tool
  23. stock — shares
  24. wave — of the sea

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