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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · present · mouse · game · safe · plane · lash · pop

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. game — a match
  5. plane — a tool
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. present — a gift
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. present — there
  18. pop — soda
  19. game — wild animals
  20. pop — to visit
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. present — the time now
  24. pop — music

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