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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.

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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: saw · pitcher · wave · scale · coach · foot · drill · plane

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. scale — in music
  5. plane — a tool
  6. drill — the tool
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. scale — size or range
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. saw — the tool
  12. foot — a measure
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. drill — a practice
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. saw — the tool
  21. drill — army training
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. foot — part of the body

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