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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  8. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. He was locked up in a ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  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. bulb — for light
  2. charge — electricity
  3. can — a tin
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. charge — in control
  6. charge — a price
  7. chest — of your body
  8. chest — of your body
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cell — in biology
  11. can — a tin
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. cell — in a prison
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. can — to be able to
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. chest — a box
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. stand — to bear
  21. bulb — for light
  22. cell — a phone
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  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