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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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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: pass · bore · bowl · stick · firm · coach · mouse · key

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. key — the most important part
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. firm — steady
  6. pass — a permit
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. bore — to drill
  10. firm — decided
  11. key — for a lock
  12. bore — to tire
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. key — in music
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. firm — a company
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. pass — to succeed

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