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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: suit · board · coach · nail · bulb · can · capital · bat

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  13. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. suit — in cards
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. board — a committee
  5. capital — a big letter
  6. bulb — for light
  7. can — to be able to
  8. bat — in an idiom
  9. suit — to fit
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. board — to get on
  12. capital — money
  13. capital — a city
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. can — a tin
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. bat — the animal
  19. bulb — for light
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. suit — clothes
  22. can — a tin
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. nail — on a finger

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