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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: suit · game · cabinet · saw · band · coach · ball · cell

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. He was locked up in a ________________.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. band — a music group
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. saw — the tool
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. game — a match
  9. cell — in biology
  10. ball — a dance
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. cell — a phone
  13. game — wild animals
  14. suit — in cards
  15. band — a ring
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. suit — to fit
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. suit — clothes
  20. cell — in a prison
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. ball — a great time
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. coach — a trainer

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