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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 tickets are free of ________________.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. can — a tin
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. charge — in control
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. bass — low music
  8. charge — electricity
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. pit — in a race
  13. pit — a hole
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bass — the fish
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bulb — for light
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. can — to be able to
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. can — a tin
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. temple — side of the head

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