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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 116 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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. pop — music
  3. chip — for betting
  4. pop — soda
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. bulb — for light
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. charge — electricity
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. stand — to bear
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. craft — a skill
  16. chip — to eat
  17. charge — a price
  18. pop — to visit
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. craft — boats
  24. bulb — for light

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