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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: pass · trunk · rash · bulb · chip · bound · staff · bark

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. chip — to eat
  3. chip — for betting
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bound — obliged
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. rash — a series
  11. rash — hasty
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. staff — employees
  15. bulb — for light
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. bark — to shout
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. bound — tied together
  22. bound — certain
  23. staff — employees
  24. pass — a permit

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