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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: jam · root · cue · wake · net · rest · bulb · charge

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. net — after costs
  3. bulb — for light
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. root — the cause
  6. cue — a signal
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. rest — what's left
  9. root — of a word
  10. charge — in control
  11. root — of a plant
  12. rest — what's left
  13. charge — a price
  14. net — for catching
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. rest — a break
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. wake — a trail
  19. cue — for pool
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. charge — electricity
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. bulb — for light
  24. cue — a hint

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