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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 120 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: deal · firm · last · suit · cabinet · snap · coach · scale

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. firm — steady
  3. last — to go on
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. suit — to fit
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. suit — in cards
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. scale — size or range
  12. snap — to click
  13. firm — a company
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. firm — decided
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. last — finally
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. scale — in music
  20. last — final
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. suit — clothes
  23. deal — to handle
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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