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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
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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: fan · drill · bore · bulb · track · season · cabinet · board

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. track — a song
  3. bulb — for light
  4. season — of the year
  5. season — in sport
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. track — a path
  9. drill — a practice
  10. bulb — for light
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. bore — to tire
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. drill — the tool
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. drill — army training
  18. board — a committee
  19. board — to get on
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. bore — to drill

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