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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · net · lie · leaves · can · band · face · rush

  1. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. can — a tin
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. can — to be able to
  6. band — a ring
  7. bulb — for light
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. face — part of the head
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. face — to point toward
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. face — to confront
  14. band — a music group
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. rush — hurry
  17. bulb — for light
  18. net — for catching
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. net — in sport
  21. net — after costs
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. lie — to recline
  24. can — a tin

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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