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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.

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: mine · present · key · pit · charge · bulb · wax · tube

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. pit — a hole
  3. charge — in control
  4. pit — in a race
  5. key — for a lock
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. wax — to grow
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. present — the time now
  11. charge — electricity
  12. present — a gift
  13. bulb — for light
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. present — there
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. tube — a container
  19. mine — for digging
  20. key — the most important part
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. tube — the underground
  23. charge — a price
  24. key — in music

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