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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: stand · trunk · bear · cue · mug · pitcher · stock · coach

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. mug — a face
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. stand — to bear
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. bear — the animal
  13. cue — for pool
  14. stock — shares
  15. stock — goods
  16. cue — a hint
  17. mug — a cup
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. cue — a signal
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. mug — to rob
  24. pitcher — a jug

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