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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: can · charge · mark · bulb · chest · jam · object · temple

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. object — an aim
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. object — a thing
  5. object — to protest
  6. mark — a grade
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. chest — of your body
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. can — to be able to
  11. bulb — for light
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. charge — electricity
  14. mark — a trace
  15. charge — a price
  16. bulb — for light
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. chest — a box
  19. can — a tin
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. can — a tin
  23. charge — in control
  24. chest — of your body

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