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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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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: foot · deal · ruler · date · squash · coach · file · bay

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. squash — the sport
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. date — the fruit
  6. foot — a measure
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. squash — to crush
  11. file — a line of people
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. file — a document
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. file — a tool
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. deal — to handle

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