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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: staff · jam · can · trunk · sharp · mug · coach · current

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. current — of water
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. mug — to rob
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. mug — a cup
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. current — electric
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. staff — employees
  14. can — a tin
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. can — to be able to
  18. mug — a face
  19. staff — a stick
  20. staff — employees
  21. sharp — clever
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. can — a tin
  24. jam — a tight spot

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