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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: pitcher · field · suit · jam · sharp · coach · bulb · bore

  1. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. field — for sport
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. sharp — clever
  11. suit — to fit
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. field — farmland
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. suit — clothes
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bore — to tire
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. bore — to drill
  24. suit — in cards

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