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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: bulb · calf · coach · root · shower · present · rush · plane

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. shower — rain
  3. bulb — for light
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. root — the cause
  6. rush — hurry
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. present — the time now
  9. root — of a plant
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. present — a gift
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. shower — to wash
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. present — there
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. bulb — for light
  23. plane — a tool
  24. root — of a word

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