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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: spell · bound · deal · bowl · bank · ruler · tube · bulb

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. bound — obliged
  3. tube — a container
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. bank — for money
  6. bound — tied together
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. tube — the underground
  10. spell — a short time
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bank — for money
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. deal — to handle
  16. spell — magic
  17. bound — certain
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. spell — letters
  20. bank — of a river
  21. bulb — for light
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bowl — to roll

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