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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: tube · pitch · plane · kick · saw · ball · stand · coach

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. plane — a tool
  5. stand — to bear
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. tube — the underground
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. pitch — completely
  14. tube — a container
  15. ball — a great time
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. ball — a dance
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. kick — in football
  24. saw — the tool

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