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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 tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. charge — a price
  3. mug — to rob
  4. mug — a face
  5. bulb — for light
  6. mug — a cup
  7. charge — electricity
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. pop — to visit
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. charge — in control
  15. mate — to breed
  16. bulb — for light
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. rash — a series
  19. pop — soda
  20. mate — a partner
  21. rash — hasty
  22. pop — music
  23. mate — a friend
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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