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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: pitcher · present · firm · temple · bulb · plane · charge · pop

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. firm — a company
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. present — a gift
  6. firm — decided
  7. bulb — for light
  8. present — there
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. present — the time now
  11. firm — steady
  12. pop — music
  13. pop — soda
  14. plane — a tool
  15. pop — to visit
  16. charge — a price
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. charge — electricity
  22. bulb — for light
  23. charge — in control
  24. pitcher — a jug

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