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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. bulb — for light
  6. game — wild animals
  7. tube — the underground
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. tube — a container
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. suit — to fit
  12. charge — a price
  13. sharp — clever
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bulb — for light
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. game — a match
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. charge — in control
  23. charge — electricity
  24. suit — in cards

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