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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: sharp · foot · coach · bulb · march · squash · rock · fine

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. march — music
  4. foot — a measure
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. sharp — clever
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. fine — all right
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. fine — high quality
  13. squash — the sport
  14. march — the month
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. march — the month
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bulb — for light
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. rock — music
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. rock — a stone

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