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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: mouse · perch · toast · coach · mark · pitcher · stick · bound

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. mark — a trace
  12. bound — obliged
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. toast — bread
  19. mark — a grade
  20. bound — tied together
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. perch — the fish
  23. bound — certain
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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