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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  19. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. charge — electricity
  4. squash — the sport
  5. bulb — for light
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. capital — a big letter
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. firm — steady
  15. stem — to come from
  16. firm — decided
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. capital — money
  19. capital — a city
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. squash — to crush
  22. bulb — for light
  23. charge — in control
  24. charge — a price

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