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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: track · coach · mug · pitcher · temple · bank · face · band

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. mug — a cup
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. face — to confront
  8. bank — of a river
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. bank — for money
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. track — a song
  13. mug — to rob
  14. mug — a face
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. face — to point toward
  17. track — a path
  18. band — a ring
  19. face — part of the head
  20. track — to keep track
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. band — a music group
  24. temple — a place of worship

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