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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: bore · rash · suit · cold · press · object · mug · coach

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. The water is too ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. suit — in cards
  3. rash — hasty
  4. object — a thing
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. mug — a face
  7. bore — to drill
  8. cold — an illness
  9. press — newspapers
  10. cold — not warm
  11. press — to push
  12. cold — the Cold War
  13. mug — a cup
  14. suit — clothes
  15. mug — to rob
  16. rash — a series
  17. press — a publisher
  18. suit — to fit
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. object — an aim
  22. bore — to tire
  23. object — to protest
  24. bore — gave birth

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