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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
468
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: bulb · bark · cue · mouse · board · leaves · chip · jam

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. chip — to eat
  5. bark — to shout
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. board — to get on
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. cue — for pool
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. board — a committee
  13. bulb — for light
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. cue — a signal
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bulb — for light
  22. chip — for betting
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. board — a flat piece

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