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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: track · bulb · cabinet · nail · tube · rock · face · content

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. face — part of the head
  3. track — a path
  4. rock — music
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. track — to keep track
  7. face — to confront
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. bulb — for light
  10. tube — the underground
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. track — a song
  13. tube — a container
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. content — the amount
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. rock — a stone
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. face — to point toward
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. content — happy

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