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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: toast · fan · lean · bass · bound · drill · coach · deal

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. drill — a practice
  3. toast — bread
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. bound — obliged
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. bound — certain
  10. drill — army training
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. lean — thin
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. bass — the fish
  17. bass — low music
  18. drill — the tool
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. lean — to bend
  21. bound — tied together
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. deal — to handle
  24. fan — a supporter

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