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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: saw · staff · face · cell · pitch · suit · season · coach

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. He was locked up in a ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. face — to point toward
  3. saw — the tool
  4. face — part of the head
  5. cell — in a prison
  6. suit — to fit
  7. season — of the year
  8. suit — clothes
  9. cell — in biology
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. face — to confront
  13. saw — the tool
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. pitch — completely
  17. staff — employees
  18. season — in sport
  19. cell — a phone
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. staff — employees
  22. staff — a stick
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. suit — in cards

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