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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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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: stem · snap · pitch · charge · bulb · bear · scale · pass

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. charge — a price
  3. scale — in music
  4. pass — a permit
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. stem — to come from
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. bulb — for light
  10. charge — in control
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. charge — electricity
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. bear — the animal
  18. snap — to click
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. bear — the animal
  23. bulb — for light
  24. scale — size or range

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