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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: can · stick · net · vault · rash · stand · pop · coach

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. net — after costs
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. stand — to bear
  8. can — a tin
  9. pop — to visit
  10. vault — a safe
  11. pop — soda
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. net — for catching
  14. pop — music
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. rash — hasty
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. can — to be able to
  22. can — a tin
  23. net — in sport
  24. rash — a series

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