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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: kick · sharp · pound · stand · pitcher · present · can · coach

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. sharp — clever
  4. can — a tin
  5. pound — to hit hard
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. pound — for dogs
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. present — there
  11. present — a gift
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. can — to be able to
  19. kick — in football
  20. stand — to bear
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. present — the time now
  24. can — a tin

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