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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: charge · pitcher · pop · face · bulb · arm · mug · season

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. season — in sport
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. pop — soda
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. bulb — for light
  7. face — part of the head
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. charge — a price
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. charge — in control
  12. charge — electricity
  13. mug — a cup
  14. face — to point toward
  15. season — of the year
  16. mug — to rob
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. mug — a face
  20. pop — music
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. face — to confront
  24. bulb — for light

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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