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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: drill · board · dip · leaves · stick · can · bay · foot

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. can — a tin
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. board — a committee
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. drill — the tool
  9. can — a tin
  10. board — to get on
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. dip — to sink
  13. drill — a practice
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. can — to be able to
  21. foot — a measure
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. drill — army training

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