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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 116 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: scale · nail · hide · staff · vault · coach · ball · plane

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. scale — in music
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. plane — a tool
  5. staff — employees
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. vault — a safe
  15. staff — employees
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. ball — a dance
  19. ball — a great time
  20. staff — a stick
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. scale — size or range

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