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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: face · charge · mate · firm · cue · leaves · lash · bulb

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. firm — steady
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. mate — a friend
  5. firm — a company
  6. bulb — for light
  7. mate — to breed
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. cue — a signal
  10. cue — for pool
  11. face — to confront
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. face — to point toward
  17. cue — a hint
  18. face — part of the head
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. charge — a price
  21. charge — in control
  22. firm — decided
  23. mate — a partner
  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