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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: bore · mouse · bat · bowl · jam · mark · coach · cap

  1. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. bore — to tire
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. bat — for baseball
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. cap — a lid
  10. bat — the animal
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. mark — a trace
  14. bat — in an idiom
  15. cap — of ice
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. mark — a grade
  20. bore — to drill
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. cap — a hat
  24. jam — in traffic

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