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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 · pitch · can · ball · charge · bank · rock · trunk

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. charge — in control
  4. ball — a dance
  5. bank — of a river
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. charge — a price
  9. ball — a great time
  10. rock — a stone
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bulb — for light
  18. charge — electricity
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. pitch — completely
  22. bank — for money
  23. bank — for money
  24. rock — music

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