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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 120 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: bay · bulb · cabinet · craft · current · coach · suit · hide

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. craft — a skill
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. current — of water
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. suit — in cards
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. craft — boats
  12. suit — to fit
  13. bulb — for light
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. current — happening now
  19. bulb — for light
  20. current — electric
  21. suit — clothes
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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