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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
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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: face · saw · object · leaves · charge · key · chip · bulb

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. charge — electricity
  5. saw — the tool
  6. chip — to eat
  7. face — to point toward
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. key — the most important part
  10. bulb — for light
  11. face — to confront
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. object — an aim
  14. face — part of the head
  15. key — in music
  16. object — to protest
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. charge — a price
  19. saw — the tool
  20. object — a thing
  21. chip — for betting
  22. key — for a lock
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. charge — in control

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