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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. plane — a tool
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. bulb — for light
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. saw — the tool
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. season — in sport
  9. pitch — completely
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. charge — electricity
  12. charge — a price
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. season — of the year
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. bound — obliged
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. bound — certain
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. saw — the tool
  22. bound — tied together
  23. charge — in control
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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