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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. He was locked up in a ________________.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. spell — letters
  4. stock — shares
  5. charge — a price
  6. stock — goods
  7. bulb — for light
  8. spell — magic
  9. mug — to rob
  10. cell — a phone
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. can — a tin
  13. cell — in a prison
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. bulb — for light
  16. cell — in biology
  17. charge — in control
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. mug — a face
  20. mug — a cup
  21. can — to be able to
  22. charge — electricity
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. can — a tin

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