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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · ball · drill · rest · hide · bulb · chest · cabinet

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. rest — what's left
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. drill — a practice
  6. dip — to sink
  7. rest — what's left
  8. chest — of your body
  9. ball — a dance
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. ball — a great time
  14. chest — of your body
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. drill — the tool
  17. bulb — for light
  18. rest — a break
  19. chest — a box
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. drill — army training
  24. bulb — for light

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