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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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  20. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. charge — a price
  6. season — of the year
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. season — in sport
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. stand — to bear
  13. kid — to tease
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. charge — in control
  19. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  20. kid — child
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. bulb — for light
  23. charge — electricity
  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