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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.

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: wave · content · plane · roll · trunk · deal · lean · charge

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. lean — to bend
  4. deal — to handle
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. charge — in control
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. plane — a tool
  11. charge — a price
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. charge — electricity
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. content — the amount
  17. roll — a cake
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. lean — thin
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. content — happy

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