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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 120 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: mate · bulb · wax · fine · ball · racket · rush · charge

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. ball — a great time
  4. charge — in control
  5. mate — a friend
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. fine — high quality
  8. wax — to grow
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. mate — to breed
  11. charge — a price
  12. charge — electricity
  13. mate — a partner
  14. rush — hurry
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. bulb — for light
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. fine — all right
  24. ball — a dance

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