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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: can · saw · file · vault · face · coach · wake · stock

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. file — a document
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. file — a line of people
  5. saw — the tool
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. stock — goods
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — a tin
  11. wake — a trail
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. saw — the tool
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. face — to point toward
  16. face — part of the head
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. vault — a safe
  20. file — a tool
  21. can — to be able to
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. stock — shares
  24. face — to confront

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