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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: ruler · rest · chip · key · bowl · can · board · bulb

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. chip — for betting
  5. key — in music
  6. can — a tin
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. can — a tin
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. rest — a break
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. key — for a lock
  17. rest — what's left
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. bulb — for light
  20. chip — to eat
  21. rest — what's left
  22. board — to get on
  23. can — to be able to
  24. board — a committee

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