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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bulb · chair · current · charge · face · leaves · pass · cell

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. charge — in control
  4. chair — a leader
  5. charge — electricity
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. face — to confront
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. current — happening now
  11. cell — a phone
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. current — of water
  14. charge — a price
  15. cell — in biology
  16. bulb — for light
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. pass — a permit
  19. current — electric
  20. face — to point toward
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. bulb — for light
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. chair — a professorship

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