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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: pass · chip · bulb · staff · wound · coach · racket · rush

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. bulb — for light
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. staff — a stick
  7. staff — employees
  8. wound — an injury
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bulb — for light
  12. chip — for betting
  13. rush — hurry
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. chip — to eat
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. pass — a permit
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. staff — employees
  22. wound — an injury
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. pass — to succeed

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