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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 · pitcher · staff · dip · current · court · bank · plane

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. current — electric
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. staff — a stick
  5. bank — for money
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. plane — a tool
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. court — of law
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. court — of a king
  13. bank — of a river
  14. current — of water
  15. staff — employees
  16. court — for sport
  17. current — happening now
  18. dip — to sink
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. staff — employees
  24. bank — for money

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