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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: wound · charge · jam · lie · staff · bore · bark · bound

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. bore — to drill
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. charge — electricity
  5. wound — an injury
  6. bound — certain
  7. bark — of a tree
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. lie — to recline
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. charge — a price
  12. staff — a stick
  13. bound — tied together
  14. bore — to tire
  15. staff — employees
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. bark — to shout
  19. wound — an injury
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. staff — employees

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