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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: cue · lie · ground · arm · jam · plane · coach · march

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. march — music
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. cue — a signal
  7. march — the month
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. ground — crushed
  10. lie — to recline
  11. plane — a tool
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. cue — for pool
  14. ground — the earth
  15. march — the month
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. ground — a position
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. cue — a hint
  24. arm — a part of something

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