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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 · pop · rest · staff · bass · bulb · charge · ruler

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. bark — to shout
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. staff — a stick
  6. rest — what's left
  7. pop — music
  8. staff — employees
  9. charge — electricity
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. bass — the fish
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. staff — employees
  14. rest — what's left
  15. pop — to visit
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. pop — soda
  18. bass — low music
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. rest — a break
  21. bulb — for light
  22. charge — in control
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. bark — of a tree

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