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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: dip · key · present · cabinet · bulb · pop · mark · bound

  1. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. bulb — for light
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. bulb — for light
  6. mark — a grade
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. present — there
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. pop — music
  11. present — a gift
  12. present — the time now
  13. key — the most important part
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. mark — a trace
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. bound — obliged
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. pop — to visit
  20. dip — to sink
  21. key — in music
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bound — certain
  24. key — for a lock

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