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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
468
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: coach · saw · stand · board · mouse · bear · face · drill

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. drill — the tool
  4. bear — the animal
  5. saw — the tool
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. face — to confront
  9. board — a committee
  10. drill — a practice
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. drill — army training
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. board — to get on
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. bear — the animal
  17. face — to point toward
  18. saw — the tool
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. face — part of the head
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. stand — to bear

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