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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
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: charge · mug · coach · patient · can · capital · bulb · roll

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. charge — in control
  3. mug — a face
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. bulb — for light
  7. can — a tin
  8. mug — to rob
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. capital — money
  11. can — to be able to
  12. capital — a city
  13. roll — a cake
  14. charge — electricity
  15. charge — a price
  16. capital — a big letter
  17. roll — a list
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. can — a tin
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. bulb — for light
  23. mug — a cup
  24. roll — on a roll

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