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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. hand — help
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. suit — clothes
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. hand — in cards
  10. bulb — for light
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. cue — a hint
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. suit — to fit
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. cue — for pool
  18. suit — in cards
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. cue — a signal
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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