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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: staff · jam · bulb · pass · mug · chair · chip · court

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. mug — a cup
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. chip — for betting
  5. pass — a permit
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. mug — to rob
  9. court — of a king
  10. chair — a professorship
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — for light
  14. chip — to eat
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. staff — employees
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. court — for sport
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. mug — a face
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. staff — a stick
  23. chair — a leader
  24. court — of law

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