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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: swing · file · suit · ball · current · coach · charge · roll

  1. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. roll — a list
  3. ball — a dance
  4. current — happening now
  5. suit — clothes
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. suit — in cards
  8. charge — electricity
  9. charge — a price
  10. swing — in golf
  11. ball — a great time
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. current — electric
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. suit — to fit
  16. swing — to play on
  17. file — a line of people
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. file — a document
  20. charge — in control
  21. swing — music
  22. current — of water
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. roll — a cake

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