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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. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. scale — in music
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. bulb — for light
  6. ball — a dance
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. present — there
  10. ball — a great time
  11. present — a gift
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. scale — size or range
  17. wound — an injury
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. bulb — for light
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. present — the time now
  22. can — a tin
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. wound — an injury

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