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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
468
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: rash · land · can · leaves · pitch · plane · charge · key

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. rash — a series
  4. can — to be able to
  5. land — ground
  6. plane — a tool
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. charge — electricity
  11. can — a tin
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. charge — in control
  14. land — a country
  15. key — for a lock
  16. can — a tin
  17. key — the most important part
  18. pitch — completely
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. charge — a price
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. land — to come down
  24. key — in music

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