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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 120 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: track · coach · stem · can · rush · bass · wake · bowl

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. rush — hurry
  3. stem — to come from
  4. track — a path
  5. wake — a trail
  6. track — a song
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. bass — low music
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. can — to be able to
  17. can — a tin
  18. track — to keep track
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. can — a tin
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. bass — the fish
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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