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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: kick · nail · pitcher · plane · hide · charge · stand · board

  1. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. kick — a thrill
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. kick — in football
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. board — to get on
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. charge — electricity
  17. kick — with a leg
  18. charge — a price
  19. board — a committee
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. charge — in control
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. plane — a tool
  24. nail — on a finger

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