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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: track · sharp · bound · bulb · face · toast · mouse · vault

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. face — part of the head
  3. bound — obliged
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. sharp — clever
  6. track — a path
  7. toast — bread
  8. bulb — for light
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. bound — tied together
  11. track — to keep track
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. face — to confront
  14. bound — certain
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. face — to point toward
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. vault — a safe
  20. bulb — for light
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. mouse — the animal

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