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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
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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: foot · race · file · fine · mug · coach · board · cue

  1. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. race — humankind
  2. fine — high quality
  3. cue — for pool
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. race — a contest
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. mug — a face
  8. board — to get on
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. fine — all right
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. file — a tool
  13. file — a line of people
  14. cue — a hint
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. mug — to rob
  18. file — a document
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. foot — a measure
  21. mug — a cup
  22. cue — a signal
  23. race — the arms race
  24. board — a committee

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