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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: mate · wake · pitcher · mug · rock · stand · fine · coach

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. fine — all right
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. mate — a friend
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. mate — a partner
  10. wake — a trail
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. mate — to breed
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. mug — a cup
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. mug — to rob
  17. mug — a face
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. fine — high quality
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. stand — to bear
  22. rock — a stone
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. rock — music

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