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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: lie · rush · stock · can · mug · wave · coach · foot

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. foot — a measure
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — to be able to
  5. stock — goods
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rush — hurry
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. can — a tin
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. lie — to recline
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. mug — a cup
  15. stock — shares
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. mug — to rob
  21. mug — a face
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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