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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: bulb · charge · drill · lie · date · pass · calf · season

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. charge — electricity
  3. bulb — for light
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. season — of the year
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. charge — in control
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. bulb — for light
  10. drill — army training
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. charge — a price
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. lie — to recline
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. pass — a permit
  18. drill — the tool
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. season — in sport
  21. date — the fruit
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. date — on the calendar

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