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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 116 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 · wax · leaves · charge · saw · mark · rule · can

  1. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. mark — a grade
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. can — a tin
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. saw — the tool
  8. mark — a trace
  9. can — to be able to
  10. saw — the tool
  11. wax — to grow
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. charge — in control
  15. rule — government
  16. can — a tin
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. charge — electricity
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. bulb — for light
  22. charge — a price
  23. rule — to rule out
  24. bulb — for light

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