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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: mouse · stand · band · bulb · file · saw · calf · coach

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. saw — the tool
  5. file — a line of people
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. file — a document
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. saw — the tool
  13. bulb — for light
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. band — a ring
  21. file — a tool
  22. band — a music group
  23. bulb — for light
  24. stand — to bear

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