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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: coach · rock · wound · mug · ground · drill · rush · bear

  1. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. mug — a cup
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — the animal
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. drill — a practice
  8. drill — the tool
  9. ground — crushed
  10. ground — a position
  11. drill — army training
  12. wound — an injury
  13. rock — music
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. ground — the earth
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. mug — a face
  21. rock — a stone
  22. rush — hurry
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. mug — to rob

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