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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. bass — the fish
  4. object — to protest
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. object — an aim
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. bass — low music
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. vault — a safe
  12. net — after costs
  13. net — in sport
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. net — for catching
  18. object — a thing
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. bulb — for light
  24. patient — a sick person

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