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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.

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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: deal · saw · plane · temple · bass · mark · bound · charge

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. bound — obliged
  4. mark — a trace
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. mark — a grade
  9. saw — the tool
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. charge — electricity
  13. bass — low music
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. bass — the fish
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. bound — tied together
  20. charge — in control
  21. plane — a tool
  22. deal — to handle
  23. saw — the tool
  24. bound — certain

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