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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.

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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: dip · stand · bulb · charge · pop · board · cell · ball

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. pop — soda
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. bulb — for light
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. cell — a phone
  11. pop — music
  12. charge — electricity
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. pop — to visit
  15. dip — to sink
  16. bulb — for light
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. ball — a dance
  19. board — to get on
  20. charge — a price
  21. board — a committee
  22. ball — a great time
  23. charge — in control
  24. stand — to bear

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