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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: toast · cabinet · rush · can · foot · coach · pitcher · charge

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. can — a tin
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. charge — electricity
  6. foot — a measure
  7. charge — a price
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. can — to be able to
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. toast — bread
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. rush — hurry
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. can — a tin
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. charge — in control
  24. rush — to hurry

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