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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: net · sharp · roll · nail · charge · content · stand · plane

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. charge — electricity
  3. plane — a tool
  4. sharp — clever
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. charge — in control
  7. stand — to bear
  8. content — happy
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. roll — a list
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. net — after costs
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. roll — a cake
  17. charge — a price
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. content — the amount
  21. net — in sport
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. net — for catching
  24. roll — on a roll

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