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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 120 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: bear · nail · coach · dip · stand · ball · mug · temple

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. ball — a great time
  10. mug — to rob
  11. dip — to sink
  12. bear — the animal
  13. mug — a face
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. ball — a dance
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. bear — the animal
  22. stand — to bear
  23. mug — a cup
  24. stand — for spectators

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