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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: cabinet · face · deal · can · ball · coach · current · bay

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. current — of water
  5. can — to be able to
  6. face — to confront
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. deal — to handle
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. ball — a dance
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. ball — a great time
  14. current — electric
  15. can — a tin
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. face — part of the head
  18. current — happening now
  19. face — to point toward
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. can — a tin
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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