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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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. season — of the year
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. chip — to eat
  5. charge — electricity
  6. bulb — for light
  7. chip — for betting
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. charge — a price
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. board — a committee
  13. bulb — for light
  14. board — to get on
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. charge — in control
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. season — in sport
  24. foot — a measure

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