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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 · can · dip · bass · mark · track · cell · coach

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. He was locked up in a ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. track — to keep track
  5. cell — a phone
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bulb — for light
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. bass — low music
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. mark — a grade
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. can — a tin
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. track — a song
  16. can — to be able to
  17. cell — in a prison
  18. mark — a trace
  19. can — a tin
  20. track — a path
  21. bass — the fish
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. dip — to sink

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