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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 116 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. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. season — of the year
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. sharp — clever
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. charge — in control
  10. charge — a price
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. bulb — for light
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. saw — the tool
  15. charge — electricity
  16. saw — the tool
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. season — in sport
  21. bulb — for light
  22. band — a ring
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. ruler — for measuring

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