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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
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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 · foot · pop · trunk · key · bulb · can · sharp

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. can — a tin
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. bulb — for light
  5. pop — to visit
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. key — for a lock
  8. key — the most important part
  9. pop — music
  10. bulb — for light
  11. can — a tin
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. key — in music
  17. pop — soda
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. can — to be able to
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. foot — a measure
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. sharp — clever
  24. trunk — of a tree

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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