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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. cue — a signal
  5. net — for catching
  6. fall — the season
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. charge — a price
  9. net — in sport
  10. season — of the year
  11. track — to keep track
  12. cue — a hint
  13. track — a path
  14. season — in sport
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. net — after costs
  17. charge — electricity
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. bulb — for light
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. charge — in control
  22. fall — to drop
  23. fall — to drop
  24. track — a song

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