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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: scale · stand · pitcher · jam · coach · hide · bulb · date

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. bulb — for light
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. date — the fruit
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. scale — size or range
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. scale — in music
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. stand — to bear
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. date — on the calendar

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