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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. suit — in cards
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. chair — to sit on
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. suit — clothes
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. suit — to fit
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. bulb — for light
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. chair — a leader
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. pound — a weight
  22. pound — to hit hard
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. chair — a professorship

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