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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: drill · bat · bulb · toast · bound · root · can · content

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. content — the amount
  3. can — a tin
  4. root — the cause
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. root — of a plant
  7. can — to be able to
  8. bulb — for light
  9. drill — a practice
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. drill — army training
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. bat — for baseball
  14. toast — bread
  15. content — happy
  16. drill — the tool
  17. bat — the animal
  18. bound — tied together
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. root — of a word
  21. bat — in an idiom
  22. bound — obliged
  23. bound — certain
  24. bulb — for light

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