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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: wave · cap · charge · plane · fine · fan · firm · hand

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. cap — of ice
  4. hand — in cards
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. hand — help
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. firm — steady
  11. fine — all right
  12. plane — a tool
  13. charge — electricity
  14. cap — a lid
  15. firm — a company
  16. charge — a price
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. fine — high quality
  22. cap — a hat
  23. charge — in control
  24. firm — decided

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