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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: coach · bay · stand · current · rush · chair · land · saw

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  17. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. land — a country
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. rush — hurry
  6. current — of water
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. current — happening now
  10. saw — the tool
  11. land — to come down
  12. current — electric
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. stand — to bear
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. chair — a leader
  17. chair — a professorship
  18. saw — the tool
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. land — ground

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