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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: coach · cue · spring · bulb · wave · dip · mouse · season

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. dip — to sink
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. cue — for pool
  7. spring — a coil
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. spring — the season
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. season — of the year
  12. bulb — for light
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. spring — of water
  19. season — in sport
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. cue — a signal
  23. cue — a hint
  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