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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 · rock · cap · toast · current · key · bowl · face

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. rock — music
  3. current — electric
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. key — for a lock
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. face — part of the head
  8. face — to confront
  9. face — to point toward
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. toast — bread
  14. key — in music
  15. key — the most important part
  16. rock — a stone
  17. current — of water
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. cap — a hat
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. cap — a lid
  22. current — happening now
  23. cap — of ice
  24. bowl — to roll

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