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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 · calf · plane · cabinet · mug · tube · court · mate

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. tube — a container
  3. mate — to breed
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. tube — the underground
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. court — of a king
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. court — of law
  12. plane — a tool
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. mate — a friend
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. mug — a face
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. mug — to rob
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mate — a partner
  24. court — for sport

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