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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've got to change the light ________________.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. drill — a practice
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. drill — the tool
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. charge — electricity
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. bass — the fish
  11. board — a committee
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. ball — a great time
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. drill — army training
  17. ball — a dance
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. charge — in control
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. bass — low music
  23. board — to get on
  24. charge — a price

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