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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
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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: arm · bound · charge · bulb · wax · spring · kick · can

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. bulb — for light
  3. spring — of water
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. kick — in football
  7. can — a tin
  8. bound — obliged
  9. spring — a coil
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bound — certain
  12. charge — a price
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. can — a tin
  15. charge — electricity
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. kick — a thrill
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. bound — tied together
  20. spring — the season
  21. can — to be able to
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. wax — to grow
  24. charge — in control

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