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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: staff · fork · present · rock · coach · roll · cap · can

  1. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. roll — a list
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. fork — in a road
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. can — a tin
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. cap — a hat
  10. staff — a stick
  11. staff — employees
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — to be able to
  14. staff — employees
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. roll — a cake
  17. present — the time now
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. cap — a lid
  20. rock — music
  21. rock — a stone
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. present — there
  24. present — a gift

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