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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: jam · cue · coach · temple · mug · bulb · bear · shower

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. bear — the animal
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. mug — to rob
  8. mug — a cup
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. cue — a hint
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. shower — to wash
  17. shower — rain
  18. cue — for pool
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. bulb — for light
  21. mug — a face
  22. bear — the animal
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. bulb — for light

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