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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
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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: date · suit · tube · coach · march · leaves · stock · calf

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. tube — a container
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. march — music
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. suit — in cards
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. suit — to fit
  12. stock — shares
  13. tube — the underground
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. march — the month
  17. stock — goods
  18. suit — clothes
  19. march — the month
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. date — the fruit
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. tube — in a tire

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