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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: coach · suit · cue · dip · clip · charge · scale · roll

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. dip — to sink
  3. clip — to cut
  4. charge — in control
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. charge — a price
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. cue — a hint
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. cue — for pool
  13. clip — a video
  14. cue — a signal
  15. clip — for paper
  16. roll — a list
  17. suit — clothes
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. scale — size or range
  21. suit — in cards
  22. charge — electricity
  23. suit — to fit
  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