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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 · mark · coach · cabinet · march · bay · dip · stock

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  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. mark — a trace
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. march — the month
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. march — music
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. stock — shares
  9. bulb — for light
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. dip — to sink
  12. bulb — for light
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. stock — goods
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. march — the month
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. mark — a grade
  23. bulb — of a plant
  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