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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: bay · vault · stock · coach · present · perch · bass · toast

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. bass — the fish
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. present — the time now
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. perch — the fish
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. toast — bread
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. present — a gift
  11. stock — shares
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. stock — goods
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. bass — low music
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. present — there
  23. vault — a safe
  24. toast — the most admired

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