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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: key · rock · bound · last · arm · toast · trunk · bulb

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. rock — a stone
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. bulb — for light
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. bound — certain
  7. toast — bread
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. last — to go on
  10. bulb — for light
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. bound — obliged
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. key — for a lock
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. rock — music
  17. bound — tied together
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. last — final
  23. last — finally
  24. key — the most important part

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