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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: coach · racket · plane · arm · spell · can · game · foot

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. plane — a tool
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. can — a tin
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. spell — a short time
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. game — wild animals
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. can — a tin
  17. spell — letters
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. spell — magic
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. can — to be able to
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. game — a match
  24. foot — a measure

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