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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. spell — magic
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. can — to be able to
  7. can — a tin
  8. spell — letters
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. race — humankind
  11. bulb — for light
  12. race — a contest
  13. charge — electricity
  14. can — a tin
  15. craft — a skill
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. craft — boats
  20. bulb — for light
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. charge — a price
  23. spell — a short time
  24. race — the arms race

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