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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: fan · toast · deal · rash · coach · racket · bark · kick

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. rash — a series
  4. deal — to handle
  5. toast — bread
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. bark — a dog's sound
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. kick — a thrill
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. bark — to shout
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. rash — hasty

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