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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
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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: fall · coach · bay · charge · mark · mine · lean · ball

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. mine — for digging
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. fall — the season
  6. lean — to bend
  7. fall — to drop
  8. lean — thin
  9. ball — a great time
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. charge — in control
  13. charge — a price
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. mark — a trace
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. fall — to drop
  21. mark — a grade
  22. charge — electricity
  23. ball — a dance
  24. bay — a horse colour

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