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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: tube · leaves · craft · bore · bound · current · key · bulb

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. key — for a lock
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. bore — to tire
  6. current — electric
  7. craft — boats
  8. key — the most important part
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. current — happening now
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. current — of water
  15. bulb — for light
  16. craft — a skill
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bound — certain
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. bound — obliged
  21. tube — the underground
  22. key — in music
  23. bore — to drill
  24. leaves — 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