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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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. pass — a permit
  3. bound — obliged
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. bound — tied together
  6. charge — a price
  7. suit — clothes
  8. suit — in cards
  9. bore — to tire
  10. ball — a great time
  11. bulb — for light
  12. suit — to fit
  13. charge — in control
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. bulb — for light
  17. stock — goods
  18. ball — a dance
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. bound — certain
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. stock — shares
  24. bore — to drill

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