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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. date — the fruit
  4. toast — bread
  5. band — a music group
  6. charge — in control
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. rule — to rule out
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. charge — electricity
  12. band — a ring
  13. bulb — for light
  14. rule — a law
  15. bulb — for light
  16. rule — government
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. safe — out of danger
  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