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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: coach · deal · suit · bound · cap · dip · trunk · rush

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. cap — a lid
  3. dip — to sink
  4. suit — to fit
  5. cap — a hat
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. suit — clothes
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. bound — tied together
  12. rush — hurry
  13. cap — of ice
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. deal — to handle
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. bound — certain
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. suit — in cards
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. bound — obliged

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