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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 116 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 tickets are free of ________________.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. root — the cause
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. ball — a great time
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bank — for money
  10. root — of a word
  11. charge — in control
  12. ball — a dance
  13. bank — for money
  14. bulb — for light
  15. fine — all right
  16. bank — of a river
  17. mate — a friend
  18. charge — electricity
  19. mate — a partner
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. mate — to breed
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. root — of a plant
  24. fine — high quality

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