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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: plane · cue · temple · cabinet · coach · swing · bore · nail

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. bore — to drill
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. cue — a signal
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. cue — for pool
  8. swing — in golf
  9. swing — to play on
  10. plane — a tool
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. cue — a hint
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. swing — 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