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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: march · pit · plane · sharp · jam · toast · charge · bore

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. charge — in control
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. pit — in a race
  7. march — the month
  8. charge — electricity
  9. pit — a hole
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. bore — to tire
  16. charge — a price
  17. sharp — clever
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. plane — a tool
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. toast — bread
  23. bore — to drill
  24. march — music

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