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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
468
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: coach · suit · rest · chip · cap · squash · season · foot

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. chip — for betting
  3. suit — in cards
  4. cap — a lid
  5. season — of the year
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. season — in sport
  9. rest — a break
  10. suit — to fit
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. chip — to eat
  13. squash — to crush
  14. cap — of ice
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. rest — what's left
  18. rest — what's left
  19. suit — clothes
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. squash — the sport
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. cap — a hat
  24. foot — part of the body

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