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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 116 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: bulb · dip · track · hide · bore · cabinet · stock · fall

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. dip — to sink
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. fall — to drop
  6. bore — to drill
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. track — a song
  9. fall — to drop
  10. bulb — for light
  11. fall — the season
  12. bulb — for light
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. track — a path
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. stock — goods
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. bore — to tire
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. stock — shares
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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