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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: suit · staff · bulb · straw · coach · calf · court · press

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The ball is in your ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. staff — a stick
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. bulb — for light
  5. press — newspapers
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. court — for sport
  8. suit — to fit
  9. court — of a king
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. suit — clothes
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. court — of law
  15. staff — employees
  16. bulb — for light
  17. suit — in cards
  18. press — a publisher
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. straw — a straw man
  21. staff — employees
  22. press — to push
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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