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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 120 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: pit · branch · coach · bulb · foot · ball · cell · racket

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. bulb — for light
  6. branch — a division
  7. bulb — for light
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. pit — a hole
  10. foot — a measure
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. cell — in biology
  17. ball — a great time
  18. cell — a phone
  19. ball — a dance
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. pit — in a race
  24. racket — for tennis

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