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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. pop — music
  3. game — wild animals
  4. pop — soda
  5. can — a tin
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. can — a tin
  8. charge — in control
  9. game — a match
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. bore — to tire
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. pop — to visit
  14. bore — to drill
  15. can — to be able to
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. charge — electricity
  19. charge — a price
  20. bulb — for light
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. arm — part of the body

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