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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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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. plane — a tool
  3. firm — steady
  4. firm — decided
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. mine — for digging
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. face — to confront
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. face — to point toward
  19. face — part of the head
  20. tube — a container
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. firm — a company
  24. tube — the underground

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