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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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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: root · jam · bay · nail · stick · cap · coach · roll

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. roll — a list
  7. cap — a hat
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. root — of a plant
  18. root — the cause
  19. cap — a lid
  20. root — of a word
  21. roll — a cake
  22. cap — of ice
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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