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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. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. bulb — for light
  4. board — a committee
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. bulb — for light
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. present — a gift
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. present — there
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. vault — a safe
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. present — the time now
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. board — to get on

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