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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: key · bulb · sharp · arm · rash · bound · stand · board

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. sharp — clever
  7. board — a committee
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. key — in music
  10. bulb — for light
  11. rash — a series
  12. stand — to bear
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. key — the most important part
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. board — to get on
  18. bound — tied together
  19. bound — certain
  20. bound — obliged
  21. rash — hasty
  22. bulb — for light
  23. key — for a lock
  24. sharp — exactly

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