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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. dip — to sink
  3. saw — the tool
  4. content — the amount
  5. bear — the animal
  6. rest — what's left
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. bass — low music
  12. saw — the tool
  13. bear — the animal
  14. bulb — for light
  15. rest — a break
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. rest — what's left
  18. content — happy
  19. charge — a price
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. charge — electricity
  22. bass — the fish
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bear — to put up with

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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