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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: plane · coach · object · face · jam · pitcher · mate · pitch

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. face — to point toward
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. object — a thing
  9. object — to protest
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. mate — to breed
  13. face — part of the head
  14. plane — a tool
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. object — an aim
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pitch — completely
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. mate — a friend
  21. mate — a partner
  22. face — to confront
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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