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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. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. bulb — for light
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. can — a tin
  7. charge — electricity
  8. fine — all right
  9. charge — a price
  10. lie — to recline
  11. lean — to bend
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. can — a tin
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. bulb — for light
  16. rash — a series
  17. rash — hasty
  18. perch — the fish
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. fine — high quality
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. charge — in control
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. can — to be able to

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