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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 120 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: ruler · safe · coach · cap · wound · foot · plane · perch

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. plane — a tool
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. foot — a measure
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. wound — an injury
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. cap — of ice
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. perch — the fish
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. cap — a lid
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. wound — an injury
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. cap — a hat

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