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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: fine · mouse · coach · current · bowl · pitcher · pop · stick

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. pop — music
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. pop — to visit
  10. current — happening now
  11. current — of water
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. pop — soda
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. fine — all right
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. fine — high quality
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. current — electric
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mouse — the animal

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