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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: rock · date · rest · mouse · coach · present · staff · toast

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. staff — a stick
  4. present — a gift
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. staff — employees
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. present — there
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. rock — music
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. rest — a break
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. rock — a stone
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. present — the time now
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. staff — employees
  22. date — the fruit
  23. toast — bread
  24. rest — what's left

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