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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 116 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: pitch · leaves · charge · ruler · band · season · bulb · fan

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bulb — for light
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. pitch — completely
  12. band — a music group
  13. charge — electricity
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. charge — a price
  18. season — of the year
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. season — in sport
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. band — a ring

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