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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: racket · lash · board · mark · stock · mouse · coach · can

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. stock — shares
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. board — to get on
  7. stock — goods
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. mark — a trace
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. can — to be able to
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. can — a tin
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. board — a committee
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. mark — a grade
  23. racket — for tennis
  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