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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. bore — to drill
  5. mark — a grade
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. club — for dancing
  8. fork — in a road
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. bore — to tire
  13. bulb — for light
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. mark — a trace
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. bulb — for light
  18. club — a group
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. bass — low music
  23. club — for golf
  24. bass — the fish

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