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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: bass · staff · chip · saw · perch · content · bulb · suit

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. bass — the fish
  3. chip — to eat
  4. staff — employees
  5. content — the amount
  6. bass — low music
  7. suit — to fit
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. saw — the tool
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. staff — a stick
  14. perch — the fish
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. staff — employees
  17. suit — in cards
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. bulb — for light
  20. suit — clothes
  21. content — happy
  22. chip — for betting
  23. saw — the tool
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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