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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.

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: stock · plane · race · wax · charge · fine · rock · pitcher

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  5. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  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. pitcher — a jug
  3. fine — high quality
  4. race — a contest
  5. race — humankind
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. stock — shares
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. charge — a price
  12. charge — in control
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. stock — goods
  16. race — the arms race
  17. plane — a tool
  18. wax — to grow
  19. fine — all right
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. rock — music
  22. rock — a stone
  23. charge — electricity
  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