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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: bulb · track · ruler · trunk · coach · can · bowl · net

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. can — a tin
  5. bulb — for light
  6. track — to keep track
  7. bulb — for light
  8. net — for catching
  9. net — after costs
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. track — a path
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. can — to be able to
  19. track — a song
  20. net — in sport
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. bowl — a football final

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