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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: bulb · bore · ruler · lean · degree · hand · plane · charge

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  6. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. charge — in control
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. degree — from a university
  6. degree — temperature
  7. bulb — for light
  8. charge — electricity
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. hand — in cards
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. lean — to bend
  17. degree — an amount
  18. lean — thin
  19. bulb — for light
  20. plane — a tool
  21. charge — a price
  22. bore — to tire
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. hand — help

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