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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
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: bank · net · spell · pass · stick · coach · key · roll

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. roll — a list
  4. bank — of a river
  5. net — after costs
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. spell — letters
  8. key — for a lock
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. key — in music
  12. bank — for money
  13. bank — for money
  14. net — for catching
  15. pass — a permit
  16. spell — a short time
  17. spell — magic
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. key — the most important part
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. roll — a cake
  24. net — in sport

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