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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: trunk · nail · firm · bear · coach · scale · suit · patient

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. scale — size or range
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. firm — a company
  7. firm — steady
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. scale — in music
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. suit — to fit
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. suit — in cards
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. bear — the animal
  23. firm — decided
  24. bear — the animal

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