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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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. charge — a price
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. charge — electricity
  6. can — a tin
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. rush — hurry
  9. wax — to grow
  10. can — a tin
  11. charge — in control
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. bulb — for light
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. can — to be able to
  18. bulb — for light
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. content — the amount
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. content — happy

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