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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
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: ball · pitcher · bear · bay · temple · lash · rock · coach

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. rock — music
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. rock — a stone
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. bear — the animal
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. bear — the animal
  16. ball — a great time
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. ball — a dance
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. temple — a place of worship

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