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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  15. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. suit — clothes
  4. game — wild animals
  5. cue — a signal
  6. bulb — for light
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. cue — a hint
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. pop — music
  14. cell — in biology
  15. cell — a phone
  16. suit — to fit
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. game — a match
  19. pop — to visit
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. pop — soda
  22. cue — for pool
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. suit — in cards

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