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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: mug · coach · leaves · scale · foot · rock · prune · wave

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. scale — in music
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. rock — music
  10. foot — a measure
  11. prune — to trim
  12. mug — a face
  13. prune — to trim
  14. scale — size or range
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. rock — a stone
  22. mug — to rob
  23. mug — a cup
  24. leaves — to go away

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