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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: bore · current · ruler · wind · pass · track · plane · charge

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. wind — moving air
  4. bore — to tire
  5. wind — moving air
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. charge — electricity
  9. charge — a price
  10. track — to keep track
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. track — a path
  13. current — of water
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. track — a song
  16. plane — a tool
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. charge — in control
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. pass — a permit
  22. current — happening now
  23. current — electric
  24. wind — to turn a key

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