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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. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for golf
  2. bulb — for light
  3. charge — in control
  4. mark — a trace
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. charge — a price
  8. mark — a grade
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. club — for dancing
  13. suit — in cards
  14. suit — to fit
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. club — a group
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. charge — electricity
  19. pitch — completely
  20. bulb — for light
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. suit — clothes
  24. fork — in a road

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