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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 120 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: pit · coach · suit · cabinet · staff · bear · shower · current

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. staff — employees
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. current — electric
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. pit — in a race
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. suit — in cards
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. shower — rain
  14. current — of water
  15. current — happening now
  16. suit — clothes
  17. staff — a stick
  18. pit — a hole
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. staff — employees
  21. bear — the animal
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. suit — to fit
  24. shower — to wash

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