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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: toast · ball · dip · bulb · bound · face · march · foot

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. dip — to sink
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. foot — a measure
  5. bound — certain
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. march — the month
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. face — to confront
  10. face — part of the head
  11. march — music
  12. bound — tied together
  13. bulb — for light
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. bound — obliged
  16. bulb — for light
  17. face — to point toward
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. ball — a great time
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. ball — a dance
  24. toast — bread

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