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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: bore · charge · kick · jam · lean · roll · track · plane

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. kick — in football
  5. bore — to tire
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. roll — a list
  8. plane — a tool
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. charge — in control
  11. bore — to drill
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. roll — a cake
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. track — a song
  16. charge — a price
  17. track — a path
  18. charge — electricity
  19. lean — to bend
  20. track — to keep track
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. lean — thin

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