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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 120 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: coach · season · bulb · pit · sharp · rash · firm · key

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. key — the most important part
  3. pit — in a race
  4. season — of the year
  5. rash — hasty
  6. firm — decided
  7. firm — steady
  8. season — in sport
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. firm — a company
  11. bulb — for light
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. sharp — clever
  14. key — in music
  15. key — for a lock
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. bulb — for light
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. pit — a hole

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