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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.

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: fine · chip · coach · rock · jam · mate · object · foot

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. object — an aim
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. foot — a measure
  7. chip — for betting
  8. rock — music
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. mate — a friend
  14. mate — a partner
  15. chip — to eat
  16. fine — all right
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. object — to protest
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. object — a thing
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. mate — to breed
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. rock — a stone

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