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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 120 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. David sat on the ________________.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. mate — to breed
  5. mate — a friend
  6. bear — the animal
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. stand — to bear
  13. swing — to play on
  14. mate — a partner
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. swing — in golf
  18. bear — the animal
  19. swing — music
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. coach — a trainer

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