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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 120 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: pit · mate · rash · charge · bear · spell · track · plane

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. mate — a partner
  3. track — a song
  4. pit — a hole
  5. charge — a price
  6. spell — magic
  7. mate — to breed
  8. pit — in a race
  9. charge — electricity
  10. spell — letters
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. plane — a tool
  15. rash — a series
  16. bear — the animal
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. track — to keep track
  19. rash — hasty
  20. bear — the animal
  21. spell — a short time
  22. charge — in control
  23. track — a path
  24. mate — a friend

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