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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
468
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 · spell · bound · cabinet · fine · track · ball · can

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bulb — for light
  5. can — to be able to
  6. spell — letters
  7. spell — magic
  8. track — a song
  9. ball — a dance
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. track — to keep track
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. bound — tied together
  16. fine — high quality
  17. track — a path
  18. fine — all right
  19. spell — a short time
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. bound — certain
  22. can — a tin
  23. bulb — for light
  24. can — a tin

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