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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: coach · mug · suit · trunk · court · deal · chair · pitcher

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. deal — to handle
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. chair — to sit on
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. mug — to rob
  8. mug — a cup
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. suit — clothes
  11. court — for sport
  12. chair — a professorship
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. court — of law
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. mug — a face
  17. chair — a leader
  18. suit — in cards
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. court — of a king
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. suit — to fit
  24. deal — a big deal

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