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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: march · rest · shower · coach · stand · net · mate · jam

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. mate — a friend
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. shower — to wash
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. net — after costs
  9. march — the month
  10. rest — a break
  11. net — in sport
  12. march — music
  13. shower — rain
  14. rest — what's left
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. net — for catching
  17. stand — to bear
  18. mate — to breed
  19. march — the month
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. rest — what's left
  22. mate — a partner
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. jam — to spread on 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