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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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. charge — in control
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. squash — the sport
  8. bulb — for light
  9. squash — to crush
  10. charge — electricity
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. pitch — completely
  14. charge — a price
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. cap — a hat
  18. deal — to handle
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. cap — of ice
  21. bulb — for light
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. cap — a lid
  24. deal — a big deal

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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