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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: mine · cabinet · bark · mate · dip · bore · date · trunk

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. date — the fruit
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. bark — to shout
  7. bore — to drill
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. mate — a partner
  18. bark — a dog's sound
  19. mine — for digging
  20. mate — to breed
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. bore — to tire
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. mate — a friend

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