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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. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. can — a tin
  3. pop — to visit
  4. can — a tin
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. suit — in cards
  7. pop — music
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bulb — for light
  11. can — to be able to
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. pop — soda
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. bulb — for light
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. suit — to fit
  20. suit — clothes
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. pitch — completely
  24. fan — to cool the air

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