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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: row · charge · rush · roll · jam · saw · bulb · land

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. land — ground
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. row — a line
  6. land — a country
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. roll — a list
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bulb — for light
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. charge — in control
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. saw — the tool
  18. land — to come down
  19. row — to paddle
  20. charge — a price
  21. charge — electricity
  22. rush — hurry
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. roll — a cake

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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