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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: rush · bay · bear · fall · stick · coach · racket · season

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. rush — hurry
  7. season — in sport
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. fall — to drop
  10. bear — the animal
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. fall — to drop
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. season — of the year
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. bear — 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