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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: plane · charge · pitch · rash · object · field · pitcher · safe

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. field — for sport
  3. charge — in control
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. plane — a tool
  8. field — farmland
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. object — an aim
  11. charge — electricity
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. object — to protest
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. charge — a price
  19. rash — a series
  20. pitch — completely
  21. field — a subject
  22. rash — hasty
  23. object — a thing
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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