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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: clip · charge · plane · temple · toast · ruler · nail · spell

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  16. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. charge — a price
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. toast — bread
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. spell — magic
  10. charge — electricity
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. charge — in control
  14. plane — a tool
  15. clip — for paper
  16. clip — to cut
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. spell — letters
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. clip — a video
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. spell — a short time
  24. plane — in geometry

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