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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: dip · rest · bulb · rash · charge · suit · stem · wake

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. stem — to come from
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. suit — in cards
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. charge — in control
  7. dip — to sink
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. charge — electricity
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. charge — a price
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. suit — to fit
  15. bulb — for light
  16. rest — what's left
  17. rest — a break
  18. bulb — for light
  19. rash — a series
  20. wake — a trail
  21. rash — hasty
  22. suit — clothes
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. dip — to dunk

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