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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. bulb — for light
  5. pitch — completely
  6. face — to confront
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. bulb — for light
  11. face — part of the head
  12. drill — a practice
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. face — to point toward
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. drill — the tool
  20. rush — hurry
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. drill — army training

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