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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
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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 · rash · pass · charge · temple · spell · plane · wave

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. pass — a permit
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. spell — a short time
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. rash — a series
  12. charge — a price
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. charge — in control
  15. bore — to drill
  16. spell — magic
  17. plane — a tool
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. rash — hasty
  20. spell — letters
  21. charge — electricity
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. bore — to tire
  24. temple — a place of worship

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