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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: roll · bay · cabinet · net · mug · toast · mark · coach

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. mug — to rob
  3. net — after costs
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. mark — a grade
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. net — in sport
  8. mug — a face
  9. roll — a list
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. mark — a trace
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. toast — bread
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. net — for catching
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. mug — a cup
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. roll — a cake

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