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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: stand · coach · mouse · present · deal · rock · cabinet · pop

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. rock — music
  6. rock — a stone
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. present — the time now
  12. pop — soda
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. pop — music
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. stand — to bear
  19. present — a gift
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. present — there
  22. pop — to visit
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. coach — a trainer

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