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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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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 · calf · stick · mark · firm · snap · pit · plane

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. charge — in control
  4. plane — a tool
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. pit — in a race
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. mark — a grade
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. firm — steady
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. mark — a trace
  15. firm — a company
  16. snap — to click
  17. firm — decided
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. charge — a price
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. pit — a hole
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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