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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: track · bound · rash · board · toast · bear · rest · coach

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. board — a committee
  4. rest — a break
  5. track — a song
  6. rest — what's left
  7. rest — what's left
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. toast — bread
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. rash — hasty
  12. track — a path
  13. bound — obliged
  14. bear — the animal
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. board — to get on
  17. bear — the animal
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. bound — tied together
  20. bound — certain
  21. track — to keep track
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. bear — to put up with

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