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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 · staff · cabinet · cue · swing · jam · chest · mark

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. swing — music
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. mark — a trace
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. staff — employees
  7. mark — a grade
  8. staff — a stick
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. swing — in golf
  13. staff — employees
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. chest — of your body
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. cue — a hint
  18. cue — a signal
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. chest — of your body
  21. swing — to play on
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. cue — for pool
  24. chest — a box

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