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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: stock · jam · coach · court · mug · roll · mate · bore

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. The ball is in your ________________.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. court — of a king
  4. mug — to rob
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. roll — a cake
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. court — for sport
  10. court — of law
  11. stock — shares
  12. mug — a cup
  13. roll — a list
  14. mug — a face
  15. mate — a friend
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. mate — to breed
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. bore — to drill
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. bore — to tire
  24. mate — a partner

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