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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.

Make a worksheet

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: suit · coach · calf · last · chair · roll · toast · bark

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  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. coach — a trainer
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. suit — clothes
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. chair — a professorship
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. toast — bread
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. bark — a dog's sound
  10. roll — a list
  11. last — final
  12. chair — a leader
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. bark — to shout
  15. suit — in cards
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. last — finally
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. last — to go on
  20. suit — to fit
  21. roll — a cake
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. chair — to sit on
  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