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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: dip · fall · bulb · rock · date · staff · ruler · season

  1. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. bulb — for light
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. season — of the year
  8. fall — to drop
  9. dip — to sink
  10. rock — a stone
  11. staff — employees
  12. season — in sport
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. staff — a stick
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. rock — music
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. staff — employees
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bulb — for light
  23. date — the fruit
  24. fall — the season

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