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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: fork · drill · can · toast · coach · content · mug · net

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. can — a tin
  4. drill — army training
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. drill — the tool
  7. fork — in a road
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. net — in sport
  10. mug — a cup
  11. content — the amount
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. net — for catching
  14. can — a tin
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. net — after costs
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. drill — a practice
  21. content — happy
  22. mug — to rob
  23. mug — a face
  24. toast — bread

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