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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: coach · bulb · plane · suit · press · wake · nail · calf

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. bulb — for light
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. wake — a trail
  5. press — to push
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. plane — a tool
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. suit — to fit
  11. press — newspapers
  12. bulb — for light
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. press — a publisher
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. suit — in cards
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. suit — clothes
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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