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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: chair · key · pitcher · net · mug · bear · coach · toast

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. toast — bread
  3. key — in music
  4. net — for catching
  5. bear — the animal
  6. key — for a lock
  7. key — the most important part
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. net — in sport
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. net — after costs
  14. mug — a cup
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. chair — a leader
  18. bear — the animal
  19. mug — to rob
  20. chair — a professorship
  21. mug — a face
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. chair — to sit on

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