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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.

Make a worksheet

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: spell · can · saw · mug · pitch · mark · coach · fan

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. mug — a face
  7. mark — a grade
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. can — a tin
  10. spell — letters
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. mug — a cup
  13. mark — a trace
  14. spell — a short time
  15. pitch — completely
  16. spell — magic
  17. can — a tin
  18. saw — the tool
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. can — to be able to
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. mug — to rob

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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