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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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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. cap — of ice
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. ball — a dance
  8. plane — a tool
  9. bank — of a river
  10. cap — a lid
  11. bank — for money
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. cap — a hat
  19. ball — a great time
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. bank — for money
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. temple — a place of worship

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