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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
468
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: temple · leaves · fork · drill · coach · prune · can · chair

  1. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. fork — a garden tool
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. drill — the tool
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. drill — a practice
  6. prune — to trim
  7. prune — to trim
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. chair — a professorship
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. fork — in a road
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. can — to be able to
  16. can — a tin
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. chair — to sit on
  19. drill — army training
  20. chair — a leader
  21. can — a tin
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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