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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: suit · calf · can · coach · mark · stock · pitcher · bass

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. suit — in cards
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. bass — the fish
  5. bass — low music
  6. can — to be able to
  7. suit — clothes
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. suit — to fit
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. stock — shares
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. mark — a grade
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. mark — a trace
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. stock — goods
  24. can — a tin

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