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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. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — a straw man
  2. bulb — for light
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. straw — dry grass
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. can — a tin
  8. fine — high quality
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. pound — for dogs
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. pound — a weight
  13. can — a tin
  14. fine — all right
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. bulb — for light
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. can — to be able to
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. racket — a loud noise

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