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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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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. key — for a lock
  3. key — in music
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. bass — the fish
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. stand — to bear
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. current — happening now
  12. current — of water
  13. key — the most important part
  14. hand — in cards
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. bass — low music
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. bulb — for light
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. hand — help
  22. current — electric
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. bulb — for light

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