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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: cap · arm · craft · pit · coach · rush · track · mate

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. track — a song
  4. cap — a hat
  5. pit — in a race
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. mate — a friend
  8. mate — a partner
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. mate — to breed
  11. craft — boats
  12. track — to keep track
  13. craft — a skill
  14. rush — hurry
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. cap — of ice
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. track — a path
  20. pit — a hole
  21. cap — a lid
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. arm — part of the body

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