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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. pop — to visit
  5. cue — for pool
  6. bulb — for light
  7. cue — a signal
  8. pop — soda
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bulb — for light
  12. charge — electricity
  13. charge — a price
  14. pit — in a race
  15. pit — a hole
  16. date — the fruit
  17. pop — music
  18. cue — a hint

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