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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: bulb · pound · charge · bear · pitcher · ball · board · temple

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. bulb — for light
  4. board — a committee
  5. ball — a dance
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. bulb — for light
  8. charge — a price
  9. charge — in control
  10. ball — a great time
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. board — to get on
  18. pound — a weight
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bear — the animal
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. bulb — of a plant

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