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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 120 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: nail · ball · squash · ground · plane · safe · coach · fine

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. ball — a dance
  4. ground — crushed
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. ball — a great time
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. fine — high quality
  9. fine — all right
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. ground — a position
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. squash — the sport
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. plane — a tool
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. squash — to crush
  22. ground — the earth
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. nail — for a hammer

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