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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mug · coach · row · foot · staff · toast · bound · vault

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. toast — bread
  3. staff — employees
  4. vault — a safe
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. mug — to rob
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. bound — certain
  10. mug — a cup
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. staff — a stick
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. bound — tied together
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. row — a line
  19. foot — a measure
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. row — to paddle
  22. bound — obliged
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. staff — employees

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