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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. charge — in control
  3. can — to be able to
  4. chip — to eat
  5. bulb — for light
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. bulb — for light
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. press — newspapers
  10. charge — electricity
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. press — to push
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. content — happy
  18. can — a tin
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. can — a tin
  22. press — a publisher
  23. chip — for betting
  24. content — the amount

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