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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. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bank — for money
  4. mark — a grade
  5. board — a committee
  6. mark — a trace
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. board — to get on
  9. bound — tied together
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bound — certain
  12. bank — for money
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. tube — the underground
  17. tube — a container
  18. bank — of a river
  19. bound — obliged
  20. rush — hurry
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. board — a flat piece

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