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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
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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: can · degree · suit · mate · cabinet · coach · wound · trunk

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. degree — temperature
  5. can — a tin
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. suit — clothes
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — to be able to
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. suit — in cards
  13. wound — an injury
  14. degree — from a university
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. degree — an amount
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. wound — an injury
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. suit — to fit
  23. mate — a partner
  24. mate — a friend

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