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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. bulb — for light
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. rush — hurry
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. key — in music
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. snap — to click
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. chair — a leader
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. key — for a lock
  16. key — the most important part
  17. chair — to sit on
  18. chip — to eat
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. chip — for betting
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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