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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. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. charge — a price
  3. bulb — for light
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. rash — a series
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — to be able to
  9. pound — for dogs
  10. can — a tin
  11. charge — electricity
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. pound — to hit hard
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. sharp — clever
  19. stand — to bear
  20. rash — hasty
  21. bulb — for light
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. charge — in control
  24. stand — on your feet

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