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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.

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: racket · coach · bulb · bass · court · ball · stand · key

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. bass — the fish
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. ball — a great time
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. ball — a dance
  8. court — of law
  9. court — of a king
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. court — for sport
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. bulb — for light
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. key — in music
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. bass — low music
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bulb — for light
  22. key — the most important part
  23. stand — to bear
  24. key — for a lock

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