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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: bulb · mine · can · suit · key · bass · temple · arm

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bass — the fish
  3. bulb — for light
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. can — a tin
  7. suit — clothes
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. can — to be able to
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. mine — for digging
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. bulb — for light
  15. key — for a lock
  16. key — in music
  17. suit — in cards
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. key — the most important part
  21. suit — to fit
  22. bass — low music
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. temple — a place of worship

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