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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 120 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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. suit — to fit
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. wake — a trail
  5. charge — electricity
  6. current — electric
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bulb — for light
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. charge — a price
  14. ball — a great time
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. current — happening now
  17. charge — in control
  18. suit — in cards
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. current — of water
  22. suit — clothes
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. ball — a dance

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