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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. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. charge — a price
  4. can — a tin
  5. craft — a skill
  6. firm — steady
  7. bulb — for light
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. can — a tin
  10. track — a path
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. track — a song
  13. track — to keep track
  14. craft — boats
  15. charge — in control
  16. firm — decided
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. can — to be able to
  19. charge — electricity
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. firm — a company
  24. leaves — of a tree

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