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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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. mark — a trace
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. mate — a friend
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. bulb — for light
  7. season — of the year
  8. season — in sport
  9. bulb — for light
  10. rash — hasty
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. roll — a list
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. rash — a series
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. craft — a skill
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. mark — a grade
  19. roll — a cake
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. craft — boats
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. mate — a partner

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