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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: roll · jam · scale · calf · cabinet · cell · coach · leaves

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. scale — size or range
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. scale — in music
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. cell — a phone
  16. roll — a list
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. cell — in biology
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. roll — a cake

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