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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: charge · date · bulb · ball · roll · bay · toast · chip

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. toast — bread
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. bulb — for light
  6. charge — electricity
  7. roll — a list
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. date — the fruit
  10. chip — for betting
  11. charge — a price
  12. ball — a great time
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. ball — a dance
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. charge — in control
  17. chip — to eat
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. roll — a cake
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. toast — the most admired

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