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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. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. bulb — for light
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. charge — in control
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. ball — a dance
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. plane — a tool
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. ball — a great time
  13. charge — electricity
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — the tool
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. charge — a price
  23. bulb — for light
  24. lie — to recline

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