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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.

Make a worksheet

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: march · leaves · patient · content · charge · bulb · key · bay

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. key — the most important part
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. charge — electricity
  11. content — the amount
  12. bulb — for light
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. march — the month
  15. charge — a price
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. key — in music
  18. content — happy
  19. charge — in control
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. key — for a lock
  22. march — music
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. march — the month

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