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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. dip — to sink
  6. bulb — for light
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. bulb — for light
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. date — the fruit
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. current — happening now
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. current — of water
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. rush — hurry
  22. bark — to shout
  23. current — electric
  24. cabinet — ministers

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