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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: can · coach · track · stock · lash · cap · file · leaves

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. track — a path
  5. track — to keep track
  6. cap — of ice
  7. file — a line of people
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. track — a song
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. file — a document
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. can — a tin
  18. cap — a hat
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. stock — shares
  21. can — to be able to
  22. stock — goods
  23. file — a tool
  24. cap — a lid

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