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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 120 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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. game — a match
  4. bulb — for light
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. fine — high quality
  7. plane — a tool
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. club — for dancing
  11. bear — the animal
  12. net — after costs
  13. club — for golf
  14. bulb — for light
  15. charge — a price
  16. club — a group
  17. net — in sport
  18. fine — all right
  19. charge — electricity
  20. net — for catching
  21. game — wild animals
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. bear — the animal

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