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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: ruler · prune · coach · bulb · clip · cue · key · firm

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. firm — decided
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. key — the most important part
  5. prune — to trim
  6. bulb — for light
  7. cue — for pool
  8. firm — steady
  9. bulb — for light
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. clip — for paper
  12. cue — a hint
  13. prune — to trim
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. clip — a video
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. key — in music
  20. cue — a signal
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. key — for a lock
  23. firm — a company
  24. clip — to cut

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