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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: bound · cap · charge · ball · plane · deal · row · wax

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. bound — obliged
  4. row — to paddle
  5. bound — tied together
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. charge — a price
  8. plane — a tool
  9. bound — certain
  10. charge — electricity
  11. row — a line
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. ball — a great time
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. wax — to grow
  17. cap — a hat
  18. cap — of ice
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. deal — to handle
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. ball — a dance
  24. charge — in control

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