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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 · mark · mouse · staff · rash · toast · net · jam

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. staff — a stick
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. staff — employees
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. staff — employees
  11. toast — bread
  12. net — after costs
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. rash — hasty
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. mark — a grade
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. mark — a trace
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. rash — a series
  23. net — for catching
  24. net — in sport

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