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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: temple · bulb · cap · ruler · wind · bound · spell · leaves

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. bound — tied together
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bulb — for light
  7. spell — a short time
  8. bound — obliged
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. cap — a hat
  12. bound — certain
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. bulb — for light
  15. spell — letters
  16. wind — moving air
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. wind — to turn a key
  21. cap — a lid
  22. cap — of ice
  23. wind — moving air
  24. spell — magic

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