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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 116 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
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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: deal · cell · plane · content · rash · can · charge · pass

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. He was locked up in a ________________.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. cell — a phone
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. cell — in biology
  5. can — to be able to
  6. pass — a permit
  7. content — the amount
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. rash — a series
  13. charge — a price
  14. rash — hasty
  15. charge — in control
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. can — a tin
  18. cell — in a prison
  19. content — happy
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. can — a tin
  22. charge — electricity
  23. plane — a tool
  24. deal — to handle

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