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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 120 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: track · can · bulb · bound · bank · present · rest · lie

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. can — to be able to
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. present — the time now
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bank — for money
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — a tin
  9. bound — certain
  10. bank — for money
  11. lie — to recline
  12. bound — tied together
  13. rest — a break
  14. track — to keep track
  15. bulb — for light
  16. track — a song
  17. present — there
  18. rest — what's left
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. present — a gift
  22. rest — what's left
  23. bank — of a river
  24. bound — obliged

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