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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.

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: bulb · ruler · season · ball · rock · date · stick · drill

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ball — a great time
  8. rock — music
  9. ball — a dance
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. bulb — for light
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. drill — army training
  15. rock — a stone
  16. drill — the tool
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. season — in sport
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. bulb — for light
  22. drill — a practice
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. date — the fruit

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