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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
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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: pass · bulb · bay · perch · file · pitcher · charge · wake

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. charge — in control
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. charge — electricity
  8. perch — the fish
  9. file — a tool
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. pass — a permit
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bulb — for light
  15. file — a document
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. bulb — for light
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. wake — a trail
  20. file — a line of people
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. charge — a price
  24. wake — before a funeral

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