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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: calf · nail · jam · wound · press · coach · mug · face

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. press — newspapers
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. face — to confront
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. face — part of the head
  14. mug — a face
  15. press — a publisher
  16. mug — to rob
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. mug — a cup
  21. press — to push
  22. wound — an injury
  23. face — to point toward
  24. wound — an injury

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