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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: calf · pitcher · rock · current · coach · pop · toast · bark

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. bark — to shout
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. rock — music
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. pop — to visit
  7. current — electric
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pop — soda
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. current — of water
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. pop — music
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. current — happening now
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. rock — a stone
  24. toast — bread

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