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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: mouse · mate · coach · nail · arm · mark · bulb · track

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. mark — a trace
  4. mate — a partner
  5. mate — to breed
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. track — to keep track
  18. track — a path
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. bulb — for light
  23. mate — a friend
  24. mark — a grade

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