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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: file · firm · pitcher · cabinet · dip · stock · bound · bulb

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. bound — tied together
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. stock — shares
  5. bulb — for light
  6. file — a tool
  7. bound — certain
  8. firm — steady
  9. file — a line of people
  10. firm — decided
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. bulb — for light
  13. file — a document
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. stock — goods
  18. bound — obliged
  19. firm — a company
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. dip — to sink
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. stock — a soup base

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