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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: coach · bay · sharp · hand · mug · mouse · bowl · pass

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. mug — a face
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. hand — help
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. mug — to rob
  17. mug — a cup
  18. pass — a permit
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. hand — in cards
  24. sharp — clever

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