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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: ruler · mouse · wound · pit · toast · cabinet · coach · stock

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. stock — goods
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. stock — shares
  8. wound — an injury
  9. pit — a hole
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. toast — bread
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. wound — an injury
  18. pit — in a race
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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