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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 · chip · toast · coach · key · pop · fan · rush

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. pop — soda
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. chip — to eat
  8. toast — bread
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. rock — music
  12. rush — hurry
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. key — in music
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. key — for a lock
  19. key — the most important part
  20. pop — to visit
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. pop — music
  24. rock — a stone

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