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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  4. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. bulb — for light
  3. band — a music group
  4. wind — to turn a key
  5. can — a tin
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. key — for a lock
  8. wind — moving air
  9. cue — for pool
  10. board — a committee
  11. can — to be able to
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. can — a tin
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. key — the most important part
  16. cue — a hint
  17. board — to get on
  18. wind — moving air
  19. cue — a signal
  20. key — in music
  21. band — a ring
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. bulb — for light
  24. lie — to recline

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