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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
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: pitcher · nail · coach · stock · object · bore · cabinet · rush

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. object — a thing
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. object — an aim
  9. bore — to tire
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. rush — hurry
  14. stock — shares
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. stock — goods
  17. object — to protest
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. bore — to drill
  24. bore — gave birth

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