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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. hand — in cards
  4. bulb — for light
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. bulb — for light
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. rush — hurry
  15. firm — steady
  16. vault — a safe
  17. hand — help
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. bark — of a tree
  20. firm — decided
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. foot — a measure
  24. bark — to shout

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