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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. bulb — for light
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. stand — to bear
  5. bear — the animal
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. key — in music
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. mate — to breed
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. mate — a partner
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. bear — the animal
  16. mate — a friend
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. key — the most important part
  19. key — for a lock
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bass — the fish
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. bass — low music

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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