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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 116 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: ball · coach · suit · swing · branch · cabinet · firm · staff

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. suit — to fit
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. swing — music
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. suit — clothes
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. swing — to play on
  12. staff — employees
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. ball — a great time
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. firm — a company
  17. firm — steady
  18. staff — employees
  19. branch — a division
  20. staff — a stick
  21. ball — a dance
  22. suit — in cards
  23. swing — in golf
  24. firm — decided

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