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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: mark · saw · fan · coach · court · bowl · stand · cabinet

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. stand — to bear
  5. court — for sport
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. mark — a grade
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. saw — the tool
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. saw — the tool
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. court — of a king
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. court — of law

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