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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: bark · mug · pop · key · staff · bear · rock · jam

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. rock — a stone
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. staff — a stick
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. pop — music
  7. key — for a lock
  8. rock — music
  9. mug — a face
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. key — the most important part
  12. bear — the animal
  13. mug — to rob
  14. staff — employees
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. bark — to shout
  17. key — in music
  18. bear — the animal
  19. staff — employees
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. mug — a cup
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. pop — soda
  24. jam — in traffic

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