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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: safe · coach · pitcher · rock · bulb · suit · court · deal

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The ball is in your ________________.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. rock — a stone
  7. court — of a king
  8. suit — in cards
  9. court — for sport
  10. deal — to handle
  11. rock — music
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. suit — to fit
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. court — of law
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. suit — clothes
  23. bulb — for light
  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