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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: stand · can · arm · charge · vault · plane · chip · content

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  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. can — to be able to
  2. vault — a safe
  3. stand — to bear
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. chip — to eat
  6. charge — electricity
  7. charge — a price
  8. content — the amount
  9. can — a tin
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. charge — in control
  19. can — a tin
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. content — happy
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. chip — for betting
  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