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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 120 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: trunk · root · nail · lie · bound · stand · press · bulb

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. bound — certain
  7. root — of a plant
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bound — tied together
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. press — a publisher
  12. bound — obliged
  13. press — newspapers
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. lie — to recline
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. root — the cause
  18. press — to push
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. stand — to bear
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. root — of a word
  24. bulb — of a plant

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