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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: fan · coach · date · stand · chip · temple · pop · mouse

  1. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. pop — to visit
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. date — the fruit
  6. chip — for betting
  7. pop — music
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. chip — to eat
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. stand — to bear

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