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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: season · key · nail · wave · mouse · fine · coach · rock

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. season — in sport
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. key — the most important part
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. key — in music
  9. rock — music
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. key — for a lock
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. fine — high quality
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. fine — all right
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. rock — a stone
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. season — of the year
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. mouse — for a computer

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