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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: arm · coach · wave · current · cabinet · rock · fine · bat

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. bat — in an idiom
  3. current — of water
  4. fine — all right
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. bat — the animal
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. rock — a stone
  11. current — happening now
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. fine — high quality
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. rock — music
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. current — electric
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. bat — for baseball

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