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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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. suit — in cards
  5. suit — clothes
  6. mark — a grade
  7. bank — for money
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. prune — to trim
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. bank — for money
  12. bulb — for light
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. prune — to trim
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. suit — to fit
  20. deal — to handle
  21. mark — a trace
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. bank — of a river
  24. bulb — for light

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