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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bound — tied together
  5. cap — of ice
  6. ball — a great time
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — for light
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. band — a ring
  16. band — a music group
  17. bound — certain
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. cap — a lid
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. cap — a hat
  23. ball — a dance
  24. fan — to cool the air

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