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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 120 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. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. spring — a coil
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. spring — the season
  7. can — a tin
  8. rash — hasty
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. can — to be able to
  11. foot — a measure
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. suit — in cards
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. rash — a series
  18. can — a tin
  19. suit — to fit
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. spring — of water
  24. suit — clothes

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