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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 light ________________ burned out.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. charge — a price
  4. pit — a hole
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. spell — a short time
  7. deal — to handle
  8. pit — in a race
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. rock — music
  12. charge — electricity
  13. spell — magic
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. spell — letters
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. rock — a stone
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. charge — in control
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bulb — of a plant

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