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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.

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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 · pitch · leaves · pit · bay · charge · cue · rash

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. charge — electricity
  7. rash — hasty
  8. bulb — for light
  9. cue — a hint
  10. charge — a price
  11. pit — a hole
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. pitch — completely
  14. cue — a signal
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. pit — in a race
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. cue — for pool
  20. charge — in control
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. rash — a series
  23. bulb — for light
  24. leaves — lets stay

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