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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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: plane · land · can · hand · track · spring · charge · lash

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. can — to be able to
  4. spring — of water
  5. land — ground
  6. can — a tin
  7. land — to come down
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. track — a path
  12. land — a country
  13. spring — a coil
  14. track — to keep track
  15. track — a song
  16. can — a tin
  17. charge — a price
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. hand — in cards
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. charge — electricity
  22. plane — a tool
  23. hand — help
  24. spring — the season

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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