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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: fine · wave · jam · coach · bank · shower · trunk · cabinet

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  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. bank — for money
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. shower — to wash
  6. bank — for money
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. bank — of a river
  15. shower — rain
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. fine — all right
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. fine — high quality
  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