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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: root · mouse · kick · chip · pitcher · jam · coach · current

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. chip — to eat
  4. kick — in football
  5. root — of a word
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. current — electric
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. root — of a plant
  11. chip — for betting
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. current — happening now
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. current — of water
  19. root — the cause
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. kick — a thrill

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