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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: coach · can · dip · court · stick · temple · mug · board

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — a tin
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. mug — a cup
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. court — for sport
  11. board — a committee
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. can — to be able to
  14. board — to get on
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. dip — to sink
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. mug — a face
  21. mug — to rob
  22. court — of law
  23. court — of a king
  24. dip — to dunk

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