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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. lie — to recline
  4. charge — in control
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. tube — a container
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. charge — a price
  13. bass — low music
  14. bulb — for light
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. cell — a phone
  17. tube — the underground
  18. toast — bread
  19. stem — to come from
  20. cell — in biology
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. bass — the fish
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. charge — electricity

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