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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: jam · track · bowl · coach · staff · can · clip · chair

  1. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  6. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  7. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. clip — to cut
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. track — to keep track
  4. can — to be able to
  5. clip — a video
  6. chair — a professorship
  7. chair — a leader
  8. can — a tin
  9. staff — employees
  10. chair — to sit on
  11. track — a path
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. can — a tin
  16. clip — for paper
  17. staff — a stick
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. staff — employees
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. track — a song
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. coach — a trainer

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