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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: charge · cue · rash · fan · plane · drill · key · spell

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. key — in music
  4. charge — a price
  5. charge — in control
  6. spell — a short time
  7. cue — a signal
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. charge — electricity
  10. drill — the tool
  11. rash — hasty
  12. drill — a practice
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. rash — a series
  15. cue — a hint
  16. key — the most important part
  17. plane — a tool
  18. drill — army training
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. key — for a lock
  21. spell — magic
  22. cue — for pool
  23. spell — letters
  24. fan — a supporter

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