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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: bowl · bulb · prune · arm · object · bay · coach · mug

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. prune — to trim
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mug — a face
  6. mug — to rob
  7. prune — to trim
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. bulb — for light
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. object — an aim
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. object — to protest
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. object — a thing
  24. bay — a horse colour

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