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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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 · rock · fine · racket · stick · mug · date · bulb

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. rock — music
  3. mug — a cup
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. fine — high quality
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. bulb — for light
  11. date — the fruit
  12. fine — all right
  13. mug — to rob
  14. mug — a face
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. bulb — for light
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. rock — a stone
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. coach — a trainer

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