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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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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. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. tube — a container
  4. bulb — for light
  5. drill — a practice
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. board — a committee
  8. tube — the underground
  9. drill — the tool
  10. dip — to sink
  11. mark — a trace
  12. staff — employees
  13. drill — army training
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. wake — a trail
  16. mark — a grade
  17. bulb — for light
  18. staff — a stick
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. staff — employees
  24. board — to get on

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