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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: rest · fine · can · object · rock · bark · coach · net

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. object — to protest
  5. rock — a stone
  6. rest — what's left
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. rest — a break
  9. object — a thing
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. fine — all right
  12. rock — music
  13. rest — what's left
  14. can — a tin
  15. fine — high quality
  16. net — for catching
  17. net — after costs
  18. bark — to shout
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. can — to be able to
  22. can — a tin
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. object — an aim

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