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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
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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 · toast · rest · bore · bulb · bark · key · roll

  1. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — a dog's sound
  2. toast — bread
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. bulb — for light
  5. key — in music
  6. bore — to drill
  7. roll — a cake
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. rest — what's left
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. bark — to shout
  12. key — for a lock
  13. rest — a break
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. bore — to tire
  16. staff — employees
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. rest — what's left
  19. roll — a list
  20. staff — employees
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bulb — for light
  23. staff — a stick
  24. key — the most important part

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