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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: row · suit · foot · coach · hand · current · pitcher · temple

  1. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. current — of water
  4. current — electric
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. foot — a measure
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. suit — in cards
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. row — a line
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. current — happening now
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. suit — to fit
  16. suit — clothes
  17. row — to paddle
  18. hand — help
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. pitcher — a jug
  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