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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: hide · jam · mouse · wave · pitcher · net · coach · mark

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  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. mark — a trace
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. net — after costs
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. mark — a grade
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. net — in sport
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. net — for catching
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. hide — to keep secret
  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