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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 teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. spring — of water
  4. suit — in cards
  5. spell — a short time
  6. suit — to fit
  7. bulb — for light
  8. charge — a price
  9. season — of the year
  10. bulb — for light
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. spring — a coil
  13. spell — letters
  14. spring — the season
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. band — a ring
  17. charge — electricity
  18. roll — a cake
  19. band — a music group
  20. charge — in control
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. season — in sport
  23. suit — clothes
  24. spell — magic

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