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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: wake · ruler · clip · pitch · hide · coach · toast · foot

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. toast — bread
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. clip — a video
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. clip — for paper
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. clip — to cut
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. foot — a measure
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. pitch — completely
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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