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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: rock · toast · bass · calf · nail · track · staff · coach

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. staff — employees
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. staff — a stick
  10. track — a path
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. track — a song
  16. track — to keep track
  17. bass — the fish
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. toast — bread
  20. bass — low music
  21. rock — a stone
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. rock — music
  24. calf — a young animal

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