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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: bark · jam · mug · calf · charge · roll · coach · prune

  1. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bark — a dog's sound
  2. charge — in control
  3. bark — to shout
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. mug — a cup
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. prune — to trim
  9. roll — a cake
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. mug — a face
  13. roll — a list
  14. charge — electricity
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. charge — a price
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. mug — to rob
  23. prune — to trim
  24. coach — a trainer

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