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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 · toast · key · bark · ruler · fine · wave · wound

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. toast — bread
  3. key — the most important part
  4. wound — an injury
  5. fine — high quality
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. bulb — for light
  12. key — in music
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. bulb — for light
  15. key — for a lock
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. bark — to shout
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. wound — an injury
  21. fine — all right
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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