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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. season — in sport
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. mug — a face
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. rest — what's left
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. bass — low music
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. mug — a cup
  15. bass — the fish
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. rest — what's left
  19. rest — a break
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. season — of the year
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. plane — a tool

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