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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: mark · net · current · drill · rock · toast · kick · coach

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. rock — a stone
  3. mark — a grade
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. mark — a trace
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. net — in sport
  8. drill — army training
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. kick — a thrill
  11. net — for catching
  12. current — of water
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. drill — the tool
  16. toast — bread
  17. current — electric
  18. kick — in football
  19. net — after costs
  20. current — happening now
  21. rock — music
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. drill — a practice

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