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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: mark · toast · cabinet · bear · coach · jam · fall · foot

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. mark — a grade
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. mark — a trace
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. fall — to drop
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. toast — bread
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. foot — a measure
  16. fall — the season
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. fall — to drop
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bear — the animal

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