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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: coach · current · toast · foot · season · ruler · fan · bowl

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. foot — a measure
  8. season — in sport
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. toast — bread
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. current — happening now
  17. current — of water
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. season — of the year
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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