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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: pit · jam · bulb · charge · patient · cell · ball · cue

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. He was locked up in a ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. bulb — for light
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. bulb — for light
  5. cue — for pool
  6. ball — a dance
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. cue — a hint
  11. charge — in control
  12. charge — a price
  13. ball — a great time
  14. cue — a signal
  15. cell — in biology
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. cell — in a prison
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. charge — electricity
  20. pit — a hole
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. cell — a phone
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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