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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 120 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 · can · pop · coach · drill · rest · pound · cabinet

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  14. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. can — to be able to
  3. rest — what's left
  4. pound — to hit hard
  5. mark — a trace
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. rest — what's left
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. pop — soda
  11. drill — army training
  12. can — a tin
  13. pound — a weight
  14. pound — for dogs
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. drill — the tool
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. rest — a break
  19. pop — music
  20. can — a tin
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. mark — a grade
  24. pop — to visit

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