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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: wake · safe · dip · cold · toast · charge · temple · plane

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  24. The water is too ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. toast — bread
  4. cold — the Cold War
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. charge — in control
  10. wake — a trail
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. dip — to sink
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. plane — a tool
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. charge — a price
  21. charge — electricity
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. cold — an illness
  24. cold — not warm

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