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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 116 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: coach · squash · bulb · board · sharp · mug · clip · mark

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. sharp — clever
  4. squash — to crush
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. bulb — for light
  8. clip — for paper
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. mark — a trace
  11. squash — the sport
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. board — a committee
  14. clip — a video
  15. mug — a cup
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. board — to get on
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. mark — a grade
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. mug — to rob
  22. bulb — for light
  23. clip — to cut
  24. mug — a face

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