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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: ball · toast · bank · cabinet · charge · mine · pitch · plane

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. charge — electricity
  4. toast — bread
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. ball — a great time
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. bank — of a river
  11. ball — a dance
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. charge — in control
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. mine — for digging
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. pitch — completely
  19. bank — for money
  20. bank — for money
  21. plane — a tool
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. charge — a price
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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