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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: bulb · roll · pass · track · temple · spring · can · bound

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bound — obliged
  5. spring — a coil
  6. can — a tin
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. spring — of water
  9. bulb — for light
  10. roll — a cake
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. can — to be able to
  13. pass — a permit
  14. track — a path
  15. track — a song
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. roll — a list
  20. bulb — for light
  21. track — to keep track
  22. spring — the season
  23. can — a tin
  24. roll — on a roll

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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