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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 120 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 am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. row — to paddle
  4. chair — a professorship
  5. cap — of ice
  6. bulb — for light
  7. foot — a measure
  8. chair — a leader
  9. cue — a signal
  10. cap — a hat
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. row — a line
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. bulb — for light
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. cue — for pool
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. cue — a hint
  20. cap — a lid
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. chair — to sit on
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. bulb — of a plant

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