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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 116 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: coach · fan · ball · suit · track · firm · nail · can

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. track — to keep track
  7. can — to be able to
  8. track — a song
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. ball — a great time
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. firm — a company
  15. track — a path
  16. suit — clothes
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. firm — steady
  19. can — a tin
  20. suit — to fit
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. firm — decided
  23. ball — a dance
  24. can — a tin

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