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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: bound · bulb · jam · stick · cap · toast · mark · ball

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. toast — bread
  3. cap — a hat
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. mark — a trace
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. ball — a dance
  12. cap — of ice
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. mark — a grade
  15. bound — tied together
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. ball — a great time
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. bound — certain
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. bound — obliged
  24. bulb — for light

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