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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: hide · mark · suit · trunk · coach · roll · march · chip

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. march — the month
  3. mark — a trace
  4. suit — clothes
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. suit — to fit
  7. march — music
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. march — the month
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. suit — in cards
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. chip — for betting
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. mark — a grade
  17. chip — to eat
  18. roll — a cake
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. roll — a list

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