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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.

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: fall · bulb · wave · kick · season · charge · can · ball

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. charge — electricity
  3. charge — a price
  4. fall — to drop
  5. bulb — for light
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. fall — the season
  8. season — in sport
  9. can — a tin
  10. kick — a thrill
  11. bulb — for light
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. can — a tin
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. kick — in football
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. season — of the year
  19. ball — a dance
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. can — to be able to
  22. ball — a great time
  23. charge — in control
  24. fall — to drop

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