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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: fall · coach · fine · object · pop · current · root · cabinet

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. object — an aim
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. root — of a plant
  6. fine — high quality
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. current — electric
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. current — of water
  13. fall — to drop
  14. root — the cause
  15. object — to protest
  16. fine — all right
  17. pop — soda
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. pop — music
  20. current — happening now
  21. fall — the season
  22. fall — to drop
  23. object — a thing
  24. root — of a word

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