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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · bulb · bore · board · stock · bay · lash · degree

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. stock — shares
  4. degree — an amount
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. board — a committee
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. dip — to sink
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. stock — goods
  11. bulb — for light
  12. degree — temperature
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. bulb — for light
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. bore — to tire
  19. degree — from a university
  20. board — to get on
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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