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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: roll · bound · mug · trunk · can · bulb · snap · bore

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. can — to be able to
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. can — a tin
  6. bound — certain
  7. bore — to drill
  8. bulb — for light
  9. snap — to click
  10. bore — to tire
  11. roll — a list
  12. mug — to rob
  13. can — a tin
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mug — a face
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. bound — tied together
  18. roll — a cake
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. mug — a cup
  24. trunk — of a tree

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