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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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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: lean · bulb · band · content · rush · branch · mark · bound

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. bulb — for light
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. mark — a grade
  5. rush — hurry
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bound — obliged
  8. content — the amount
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. band — a music group
  11. lean — to bend
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. mark — a trace
  14. band — a ring
  15. bound — certain
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. lean — thin
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. branch — a division
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. bound — tied together
  23. content — happy
  24. branch — of a tree

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