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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: stock · pit · spring · coach · mug · vault · spell · rush

  1. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. stock — shares
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. spell — magic
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. pit — a hole
  9. spring — a coil
  10. mug — to rob
  11. vault — a safe
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. rush — hurry
  14. mug — a face
  15. pit — in a race
  16. spring — of water
  17. spell — a short time
  18. mug — a cup
  19. stock — goods
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. spell — letters
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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