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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: rock · chair · date · hide · dip · coach · mark · ball

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  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. hide — animal skin
  2. rock — a stone
  3. chair — a professorship
  4. date — the fruit
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. ball — a dance
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. chair — to sit on
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. dip — to sink
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. ball — a great time
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. mark — a trace
  18. chair — a leader
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. mark — a grade
  23. mark — to pay attention
  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