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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: sharp · board · bowl · suit · racket · drill · bore · bulb

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. bore — to tire
  4. bulb — for light
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. board — to get on
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. suit — clothes
  10. drill — a practice
  11. drill — the tool
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. sharp — clever
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. suit — to fit
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. drill — army training
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. bulb — for light
  21. board — a committee
  22. suit — in cards
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. bowl — to roll

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