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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: jam · band · firm · cue · hand · coach · charge · present

  1. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. present — a gift
  3. cue — a hint
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. cue — a signal
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. hand — help
  9. charge — in control
  10. charge — electricity
  11. band — a ring
  12. firm — steady
  13. charge — a price
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. cue — for pool
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. firm — decided
  18. firm — a company
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. present — the time now
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. present — there
  24. band — a music group

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