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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. chair — a professorship
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bulb — for light
  8. saw — the tool
  9. chair — a leader
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. saw — the tool
  15. bass — the fish
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. bulb — for light
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. bass — low music
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. chair — to sit on

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