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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: plane · sharp · nail · shower · can · pass · charge · deal

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. sharp — clever
  6. shower — to wash
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. charge — in control
  10. can — a tin
  11. shower — rain
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. charge — a price
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. pass — a permit
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. can — to be able to
  21. charge — electricity
  22. plane — a tool
  23. deal — to handle
  24. pass — to spend time

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