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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
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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: ball · bore · firm · charge · cabinet · mug · bulb · fan

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. charge — a price
  4. bore — to tire
  5. bulb — for light
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. mug — a cup
  8. ball — a dance
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bore — to drill
  12. ball — a great time
  13. mug — a face
  14. firm — steady
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bulb — for light
  17. charge — electricity
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. mug — to rob
  20. charge — in control
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. firm — a company

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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