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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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
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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: rush · bank · pitcher · object · key · season · coach · mug

  1. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. key — in music
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. rush — hurry
  6. mug — a face
  7. season — in sport
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. mug — a cup
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. season — of the year
  13. bank — for money
  14. key — the most important part
  15. bank — for money
  16. object — a thing
  17. object — to protest
  18. key — for a lock
  19. bank — of a river
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. object — an aim
  23. mug — to rob
  24. coach — a trainer

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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