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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. pop — soda
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. bulb — for light
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. court — for sport
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. court — of a king
  14. pop — to visit
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. bulb — for light
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. pitch — completely
  23. court — of law
  24. coach — a trainer

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