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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: spell · bore · bulb · cabinet · bound · board · prune · bowl

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. bound — obliged
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. board — a committee
  7. bore — to drill
  8. spell — letters
  9. bound — certain
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. prune — to trim
  13. bulb — for light
  14. spell — a short time
  15. bound — tied together
  16. board — to get on
  17. prune — to trim
  18. spell — magic
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. bore — to tire

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