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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. mate — a friend
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. mate — a partner
  6. charge — electricity
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. bulb — for light
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. plane — a tool
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. mate — to breed
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. charge — in control
  18. charge — a price
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. bulb — for light
  23. prune — to trim
  24. prune — to trim

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