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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. can — a tin
  4. mark — a grade
  5. last — final
  6. last — finally
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. stand — to bear
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. can — to be able to
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. charge — in control
  15. can — a tin
  16. charge — a price
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. bass — low music
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. charge — electricity
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. mark — a trace
  23. bass — the fish
  24. last — to go on

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