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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: mark · perch · net · mug · coach · fall · rock · racket

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. net — after costs
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. fall — to drop
  6. rock — music
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. mug — to rob
  9. mark — a trace
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. rock — a stone
  12. mark — a grade
  13. fall — the season
  14. fall — to drop
  15. net — for catching
  16. mug — a face
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. net — in sport
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. perch — the fish

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