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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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. can — a tin
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. charge — in control
  5. can — a tin
  6. charge — electricity
  7. spell — magic
  8. dip — to sink
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bank — for money
  12. can — to be able to
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. bank — of a river
  15. rash — hasty
  16. scale — size or range
  17. charge — a price
  18. rash — a series
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. scale — in music
  21. spell — letters
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. spell — a short time
  24. dip — to dunk

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