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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: pass · season · coach · drill · squash · perch · jam · rush

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  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. squash — the vegetable
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. perch — the fish
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. pass — a permit
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. drill — a practice
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. squash — the sport
  15. drill — army training
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. drill — the tool
  18. season — in sport
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. squash — to crush
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. season — of the year
  23. rush — hurry
  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