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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: trunk · fan · degree · suit · cap · coach · lash · pop

  1. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. cap — a hat
  4. cap — of ice
  5. suit — clothes
  6. degree — an amount
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. pop — soda
  9. suit — in cards
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. cap — a lid
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. degree — temperature
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. degree — from a university
  18. suit — to fit
  19. pop — music
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. pop — to visit
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. fan — a supporter

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