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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 116 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 · cabinet · mug · trunk · deal · coach · root · court

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. root — of a word
  3. court — of a king
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. mug — a cup
  6. mug — to rob
  7. root — the cause
  8. deal — to handle
  9. court — of law
  10. court — for sport
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. root — of a plant
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. staff — a stick
  16. staff — employees
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. staff — employees
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. mug — a face

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