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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: jam · stock · craft · lash · charge · pitcher · plane · spell

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. charge — a price
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. stock — goods
  8. spell — magic
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. spell — a short time
  11. charge — electricity
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. craft — boats
  16. craft — a skill
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. stock — shares
  20. spell — letters
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. plane — a tool

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