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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 116 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: can · branch · current · bound · lie · spell · bulb · cabinet

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. spell — magic
  4. lie — to recline
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. spell — a short time
  7. bulb — for light
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. bound — obliged
  10. branch — a division
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. spell — letters
  13. bound — tied together
  14. can — a tin
  15. current — happening now
  16. current — of water
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. bound — certain
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bulb — for light
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. current — electric
  24. can — to be able to

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