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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 120 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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. tube — a container
  4. drill — army training
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. pitch — completely
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. prune — to trim
  11. drill — a practice
  12. prune — to trim
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. bulb — for light
  18. wax — to grow
  19. tube — the underground
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. drill — the tool
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. wax — for sculpting

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