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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: wound · stock · coach · bound · stand · calf · temple · rush

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. wound — an injury
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. wound — an injury
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bound — certain
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. stock — shares
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. rush — hurry
  19. bound — tied together
  20. stand — to bear
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. stock — goods
  23. bound — obliged
  24. rush — a thrill

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