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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: bat · object · charge · pitcher · bulb · jam · pass · root

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  4. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  5. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. charge — a price
  3. bat — the animal
  4. bat — for baseball
  5. bat — in an idiom
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. charge — electricity
  8. root — of a word
  9. charge — in control
  10. bulb — for light
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. root — of a plant
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. pass — a permit
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. object — an aim
  18. object — to protest
  19. bulb — for light
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. object — a thing

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