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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: jam · bear · coach · racket · rest · bass · board · march

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. bass — the fish
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. bear — the animal
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. rest — a break
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. rest — what's left
  14. board — a committee
  15. march — music
  16. rest — what's left
  17. board — to get on
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. bass — low music
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. bear — the animal
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. march — the month

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