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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: cell · shower · toast · pitch · mouse · coach · foot · rock

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  15. He was locked up in a ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. pitch — completely
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. shower — rain
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. shower — to wash
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. toast — bread
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. cell — in biology
  15. cell — in a prison
  16. rock — a stone
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. rock — music
  19. cell — a phone
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. foot — a measure
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. rock — to move gently

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