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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.

Make a worksheet

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: pass · fan · plane · roll · arm · club · coach · chip

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. pass — a permit
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. club — a group
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. club — for golf
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. roll — a cake
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. chip — for betting
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. plane — a tool
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. roll — a list
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. club — for dancing

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