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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. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. bulb — for light
  3. roll — a list
  4. current — of water
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. rock — a stone
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. charge — in control
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. season — of the year
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. ball — a dance
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. charge — electricity
  15. bulb — for light
  16. current — electric
  17. roll — a cake
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. rock — music
  20. ball — a great time
  21. charge — a price
  22. current — happening now
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. season — in sport

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