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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: mark · lie · board · stock · perch · coach · vault · can

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. can — a tin
  3. lie — to recline
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. can — to be able to
  6. vault — a safe
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. board — a committee
  9. perch — the fish
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. stock — goods
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. mark — a trace
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. board — to get on
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. can — a tin
  22. mark — a grade
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. stock — shares

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