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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: object · charge · press · lie · plane · wave · ruler · degree

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. degree — from a university
  3. charge — in control
  4. object — an aim
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. charge — a price
  7. charge — electricity
  8. object — to protest
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. object — a thing
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. degree — an amount
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. press — a publisher
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. degree — temperature
  18. press — newspapers
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. lie — to recline
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. press — to push
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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