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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: pitcher · bulb · charge · arm · fall · rest · pit · press

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. press — newspapers
  4. charge — a price
  5. pit — a hole
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. rest — what's left
  8. bulb — for light
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. fall — to drop
  12. press — to push
  13. fall — to drop
  14. press — a publisher
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. rest — a break
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. pit — in a race
  20. fall — the season
  21. rest — what's left
  22. charge — in control
  23. pitcher — a jug
  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