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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bank — for money
  5. net — in sport
  6. net — after costs
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. plane — a tool
  11. spell — magic
  12. rock — music
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. rock — a stone
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. spell — letters
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. net — for catching
  21. bank — of a river
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. bank — for money
  24. bulb — for light

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