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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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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 · content · lie · fine · rush · bulb · chair · stem

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. rush — hurry
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. content — the amount
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. bulb — for light
  8. fine — high quality
  9. charge — a price
  10. chair — to sit on
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. bulb — for light
  14. fine — all right
  15. charge — in control
  16. content — happy
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. chair — a professorship
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. stem — to come from
  23. chair — a leader
  24. charge — electricity

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