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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: mark · rush · bulb · can · roll · arm · present · object

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. can — to be able to
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. roll — a list
  7. mark — a trace
  8. can — a tin
  9. present — the time now
  10. present — a gift
  11. mark — a grade
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. present — there
  14. object — an aim
  15. bulb — for light
  16. rush — hurry
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. roll — a cake
  19. can — a tin
  20. object — to protest
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bulb — of a plant

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