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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
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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 · suit · mug · chair · plane · club · snap · rash

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  4. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. club — for dancing
  3. chair — a professorship
  4. chair — a leader
  5. suit — clothes
  6. plane — a tool
  7. rash — hasty
  8. mug — a face
  9. mug — a cup
  10. suit — in cards
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. snap — to click
  13. mug — to rob
  14. rash — a series
  15. club — a group
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. suit — to fit
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. club — for golf
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. chair — to sit on
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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