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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: wake · coach · jam · mate · suit · bank · pitch · bowl

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. wake — a trail
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. mate — a friend
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. mate — to breed
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. bank — of a river
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. pitch — completely
  17. suit — to fit
  18. bank — for money
  19. bank — for money
  20. suit — in cards
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. suit — clothes
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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