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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 · current · mug · mate · clip · trunk · coach · face

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. face — to point toward
  3. clip — a video
  4. current — of water
  5. face — part of the head
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. can — a tin
  8. mate — to breed
  9. mate — a friend
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. can — to be able to
  12. clip — for paper
  13. face — to confront
  14. mate — a partner
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. can — a tin
  17. mug — a face
  18. mug — to rob
  19. clip — to cut
  20. current — electric
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. mug — a cup
  23. current — happening now
  24. trunk — of a car

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