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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. plane — a tool
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. mark — a grade
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. can — a tin
  8. band — a ring
  9. track — a song
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. can — a tin
  14. track — to keep track
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. mark — a trace
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. band — a music group
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bulb — for light
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. track — a path
  24. mark — to pay attention

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