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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: court · prune · arm · bulb · can · coach · bowl · cue

  1. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. bulb — for light
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. court — of law
  7. court — of a king
  8. prune — to trim
  9. can — to be able to
  10. court — for sport
  11. can — a tin
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. cue — for pool
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bulb — for light
  17. cue — a hint
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. cue — a signal
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. can — a tin

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