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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: pitcher · mouse · chip · rush · suit · coach · current · swing

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. David sat on the ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. chip — for betting
  4. swing — to play on
  5. chip — to eat
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. suit — to fit
  10. current — electric
  11. current — happening now
  12. suit — clothes
  13. rush — hurry
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. current — of water
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. swing — music
  22. suit — in cards
  23. swing — in golf
  24. rush — to hurry

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