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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
468
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: mouse · coach · bear · fan · key · pit · roll · bore

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. key — in music
  4. roll — a list
  5. bear — the animal
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. bore — to tire
  8. key — the most important part
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. pit — in a race
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. key — for a lock
  19. roll — a cake
  20. bore — to drill
  21. pit — a hole
  22. bear — the animal
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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