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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: bulb · object · can · rock · dip · branch · charge · ruler

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. branch — a division
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. rock — a stone
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. object — a thing
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. charge — a price
  10. can — a tin
  11. charge — electricity
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. can — to be able to
  17. object — to protest
  18. can — a tin
  19. object — an aim
  20. charge — in control
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. bulb — for light
  24. dip — to sink

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