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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. rest — a break
  4. tube — a container
  5. charge — electricity
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. rest — what's left
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. foot — a measure
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. bulb — for light
  16. wake — a trail
  17. pass — a permit
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. charge — a price
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. tube — the underground
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. rest — what's left
  24. bulb — for light

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