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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.

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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: roll · dip · face · bulb · jam · mug · coach · bass

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. bulb — for light
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. mug — a face
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. mug — a cup
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. bulb — for light
  12. roll — a cake
  13. face — to confront
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. face — part of the head
  17. dip — to sink
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. bass — low music
  20. mug — to rob
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. face — to point toward
  23. roll — a list
  24. bass — the instrument

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