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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: rock · bay · fan · rush · foot · saw · mouse · coach

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. foot — a measure
  9. saw — the tool
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. saw — the tool
  15. rock — a stone
  16. rush — hurry
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. rock — music
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. rock — to move gently

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