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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.

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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: hand · squash · mark · charge · plane · wave · temple · bay

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. hand — help
  4. charge — electricity
  5. charge — in control
  6. plane — a tool
  7. charge — a price
  8. mark — a trace
  9. squash — to crush
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. mark — a grade
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. squash — the sport
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. hand — in cards
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. mark — to pay attention

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