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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: board · drill · bulb · pitcher · game · rock · season · wake

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. game — a match
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. bulb — for light
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. drill — army training
  8. wake — a trail
  9. rock — a stone
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. season — in sport
  12. drill — the tool
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. rock — music
  16. game — wild animals
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. board — to get on
  20. bulb — for light
  21. season — of the year
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. board — a committee
  24. pitcher — a jug

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