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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: can · hand · mark · charge · ball · ruler · lean · bulb

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. charge — a price
  4. charge — electricity
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. lean — thin
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. ball — a dance
  11. bulb — for light
  12. can — a tin
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. hand — help
  15. charge — in control
  16. mark — a trace
  17. can — to be able to
  18. can — a tin
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. ball — a great time
  22. bulb — for light
  23. hand — in cards
  24. mark — a grade

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