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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 116 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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. bound — tied together
  3. mug — a face
  4. cap — of ice
  5. charge — in control
  6. mug — a cup
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. bound — obliged
  9. bulb — for light
  10. season — of the year
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. season — in sport
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. mug — to rob
  15. cap — a lid
  16. firm — a company
  17. bulb — for light
  18. firm — decided
  19. bound — certain
  20. firm — steady
  21. charge — electricity
  22. cap — a hat
  23. charge — a price
  24. bulb — of a plant

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