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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: face · plane · hide · coach · charge · ground · pass · stem

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. ground — a position
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. face — part of the head
  7. ground — the earth
  8. plane — a tool
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. face — to point toward
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. charge — electricity
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. face — to confront
  17. charge — a price
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. pass — a permit
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. stem — to come from
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. ground — crushed

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