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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.

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: charge · season · spell · rest · lash · coach · bulb · ruler

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. rest — a break
  4. season — in sport
  5. charge — a price
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. rest — what's left
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. charge — in control
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. charge — electricity
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. spell — letters
  18. spell — magic
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. season — of the year
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. bulb — for light
  23. spell — a short time
  24. rest — what's left

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