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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: fan · foot · prune · calf · coach · bulb · pass · chip

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. prune — to trim
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. chip — for betting
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. foot — a measure
  18. prune — to trim
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. bulb — for light
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. chip — to eat
  23. pass — a permit
  24. fan — a supporter

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