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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: current · mouse · coach · mug · saw · firm · pitch · track

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. track — a path
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. firm — a company
  6. mug — a face
  7. track — to keep track
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. pitch — completely
  12. firm — decided
  13. mug — to rob
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. current — of water
  16. saw — the tool
  17. saw — the tool
  18. mug — a cup
  19. track — a song
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. current — electric
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. firm — steady
  24. current — happening now

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