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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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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: dip · charge · pop · wax · pitch · foot · coach · fan

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. pop — music
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. charge — in control
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. pop — to visit
  11. dip — to sink
  12. charge — a price
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. pitch — completely
  17. pop — soda
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. charge — electricity
  20. wax — to grow
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. foot — a measure
  24. dip — to dunk

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