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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. bank — for money
  3. charge — electricity
  4. bank — of a river
  5. bulb — for light
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. bank — for money
  8. march — music
  9. suit — clothes
  10. bass — the fish
  11. charge — in control
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. suit — to fit
  14. charge — a price
  15. march — the month
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. season — in sport
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. bass — low music
  21. march — the month
  22. suit — in cards
  23. season — of the year
  24. chip — for betting

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