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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
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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: bulb · can · nail · kid · key · leaves · cap · chip

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. bulb — for light
  3. kid — to tease
  4. cap — of ice
  5. chip — to eat
  6. cap — a hat
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. chip — for betting
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  12. can — to be able to
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. bulb — for light
  16. key — for a lock
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. can — a tin
  20. key — in music
  21. can — a tin
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. cap — a lid
  24. kid — child

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