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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: leaves · coach · object · trunk · bore · mate · suit · wound

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. mate — to breed
  4. bore — to drill
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. wound — an injury
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. wound — an injury
  11. bore — to tire
  12. suit — to fit
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. object — to protest
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. mate — a partner
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. suit — in cards
  20. mate — a friend
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. object — a thing
  24. suit — clothes

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