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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. bulb — for light
  4. suit — to fit
  5. march — the month
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. bat — for baseball
  8. march — the month
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. mug — a face
  12. bat — the animal
  13. suit — in cards
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. march — music
  19. mug — to rob
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. bat — in an idiom
  22. mug — a cup
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bowl — a dish

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