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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: cue · patient · bulb · march · plane · jam · coach · snap

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. cue — a hint
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. march — the month
  6. cue — for pool
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. bulb — for light
  9. march — the month
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. plane — a tool
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. march — music
  18. bulb — for light
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. cue — a signal
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. snap — to click

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