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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: perch · craft · date · coach · suit · rock · jam · face

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. suit — to fit
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. date — the fruit
  6. perch — the fish
  7. rock — music
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. face — part of the head
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. craft — a skill
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. suit — in cards
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. face — to point toward
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. face — to confront
  18. suit — clothes
  19. craft — boats
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. date — on the calendar

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