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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: lean · bound · court · cabinet · bulb · rock · pit · staff

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. bulb — for light
  3. court — for sport
  4. court — of law
  5. staff — employees
  6. lean — to bend
  7. lean — thin
  8. staff — employees
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rock — a stone
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bound — tied together
  15. bound — certain
  16. court — of a king
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. pit — a hole
  21. rock — music
  22. pit — in a race
  23. lean — to rest against
  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