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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: toast · bulb · ground · board · suit · season · tube · dip

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. bulb — for light
  3. ground — a position
  4. bulb — for light
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. tube — the underground
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. season — of the year
  11. ground — the earth
  12. dip — to sink
  13. season — in sport
  14. board — a committee
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. suit — clothes
  17. tube — a container
  18. ground — crushed
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. suit — in cards
  21. toast — bread
  22. suit — to fit
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. dip — to dunk

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