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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: track · cold · board · bulb · bore · bowl · pass · suit

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The water is too ________________.
  18. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. bulb — for light
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. cold — the Cold War
  5. suit — clothes
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. suit — in cards
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. track — a path
  11. board — to get on
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. board — a committee
  15. suit — to fit
  16. pass — a permit
  17. cold — not warm
  18. cold — an illness
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. bore — to tire
  22. track — to keep track
  23. track — a song
  24. pass — to succeed

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