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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: coach · season · object · lie · bulb · fan · leaves · scale

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. bulb — for light
  4. object — to protest
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. lie — to recline
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. object — an aim
  13. scale — size or range
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. season — of the year
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. object — a thing
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. bulb — for light
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. season — in sport

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