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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: jam · kid · safe · spell · plane · wax · lash · coach

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  20. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. plane — a tool
  4. spell — letters
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. spell — magic
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. kid — child
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. spell — a short time
  19. kid — to tease
  20. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  21. wax — to grow
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. safe — out of danger

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