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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: ball · ruler · leaves · date · bulb · band · coach · rest

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. date — the fruit
  4. rest — what's left
  5. band — a ring
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. rest — a break
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. ball — a great time
  15. rest — what's left
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bulb — for light
  18. band — a music group
  19. bulb — for light
  20. ball — a dance
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. ruler — a monarch

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