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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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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: mouse · firm · court · foot · current · jam · wake · coach

  1. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of law
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. wake — a trail
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. court — for sport
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. firm — steady
  12. firm — a company
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. firm — decided
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. court — of a king
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. current — electric
  22. foot — a measure
  23. current — happening now
  24. current — of water

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