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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 116 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: can · bay · bound · bulb · mark · bark · tube · face

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. can — to be able to
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. bound — obliged
  7. bark — of a tree
  8. mark — a grade
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bound — tied together
  14. face — to point toward
  15. face — to confront
  16. bark — to shout
  17. tube — the underground
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. mark — a trace
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. face — part of the head
  24. bound — certain

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